Southern  Branch 
of  the 

University  of  California 

Los  Angeles 


Form  L  I 


PR 

5079 

W29 


;:jiAii:HC; 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES 


Copyright,  1 897,  by  Longmans,  Green,  and  Co. 


First  Edition,  July,  1897 
Reprinted,  December,  1902 


V 


5 


^ 


CONTENTS 

The  First  Part :   Of  the  House  of  Captivity 

PAGE 

Chap.   I.    Catch  at  Utterhay i 

//.     Now  shall  be  told  of  the  House  by  the  Waterside     .  8 

///.     Of  Skin-changing lo 

IV.    Of  the  Waxi?ig  of  the  Stolen  Child      ....  12 
V.     OfBirdalone,  and  how  she  is  grown  into  Maiden- 
hood        15 

VI.    Herein  is  told  of  Birdalone's  Raiment        ...  18 

VII.    Birdalone  hath  an  Adventure  in  the  Wood     .      .  22 

VIII.     OfBirdalone  and  the  Witch-wife        ....  30 

IX.     Of  Birdalone' s  Szvimming 33 

X.    Birdalone  comes  on  New  Tidings 36 

XL     Of  Birdalone' s  Guilt  and  the  Chastisement  thereof  39 

XII.     The  Words  of  the  Witch-wife  to  Birdalotie      .      .  43 

XIII.    Birdalone  meeteth  the  Wood-woman  again      .      .  46 

XIV.     Of  Birdalone' s  Fishing 51 

XV.    Birdalone  weareth  her  Serpent-ring     .      .      .      .  54 
XVI.    Birdalone  meeteth  Habundia  again  ;  and  learneth 

her  First  Wisdom  of  her 59 

XVII.     The  Passing  of  the  Tear  into  Winter  .      .      .      .  62 
XVIII.     Of  Springtide  and  the  Mind  of  Birdalone        .      .  65 
XIX.    They  bid  Farewell,   Birdalone  and  the    Wood- 
mother       68 

XX.     Of  Birdalone  and  the  Sending  Boat      ....  70 

The  Second  Part :    Of  the  Wondrous  Isles 

Chap.    I.    The  First  Isle 75 

//.    Birdalone  falleth  in  with  New  Friends     .      .      .  77 

///.    Birdalone  is  brought  before  the  Witch-wife's  Sister  8  2 

IV.     Of  the  Witch's  Prison  in  the  Wailitig-tower  .      .  85 


vi  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Chap.  F.    They  feast  in  the  Witch' s  Prison 89 

VI.    Atra  tells  of  how  they  three  came  unto  the  Isle  of 

Increase  Unsought 97 

VII.     The  three  Damsels   take   Birdalone  out  of  the 

Witch's  Prison 109 

VII I.  In  what  Wise  Birdalone  was  clad,  and  how  she 
went  her  Ways  from  the  Isle  of  Increase  Un- 
sought        112 

IX.    How  Birdalone  came  to  the  Isle  of  the  Young  and 

the  Old 117 

X.    Birdalone  comes  to  the  Isle  of  the  Queens  .      .      .131 
XL    And  now  she  comes  to  the  Isle  of  the  Kings     .     .136 
XII.     Of  Birdalone,   how  she  came   unto  the    Isle  of 

Nothing 141 

The  Third  Part :   Of  the  Castle  of  the  ^est 

Chap.   I.    Birdalone  comes  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest      .      .146 
//.     Of  Birdalone,   and  how  she  rested  the  Night 
through  in  a  Bower  without  the  Castle  of 

the  Quest .152 

///.     How  Birdalone  dight  her  for  meeting  the  Cham- 
pions of  the  Quest 157 

IV.    And  now  she  meets  the  Champions        .      .      .      .    1 60 
V.    Birdalone  has  True  Tokens  from  the  Champions 

of  the  Quest 167 

VI.     How  the  Champions  would  do  Birdalone  to  be  clad 

anew  in  the  Castle  of  the  Quest       .      .      .176 
VII.     Of  Birdalone,  how  she  told  the  Champions  all  her 

Tale 180 

VIII.     In  the  Mea?iwhile  of  the  Departi?ig  of  the  Cham- 
pions,  they  would  pleasure  Birdalone  with 
Feats  of  Arms  and  Games  of  Prowess   .      .184 
IX.    Birdalone  cometh  before  the  Champions  in  her  New 

Array 186 

X.     The   Champions  go  their  Ways  in  the  Sending 

Boat 190 


CONTENTS  vii 


The  Fourth  Part :   Of  the  Days  of  Abiding 


■) 


PAGE 

Chap.   I.     Of  Birdalone'  5    Grief;    and  of  Leonard  the 

Chaplain 194 

//.    Birdalone  leameth  Lore  of  the  Priest.      Ten 

Days  of  Waiting  wear 197 

///.     Now  would  Birdalone  ride  abroad  .      .      .      .  20 1 

ir.     Of  Birdalone's  Faring  abroad 205 

V.    Sir  Aymeris  showeth  Birdalone  the  Mountains 

afar  off 208 

VL    Birdalone  heareth  tell  Tales  of  the  Black  Val- 
ley of  the  Greywethers 213 

VIL    Birdalone  beguileth  the  Priest  to  help  her  to 

Outgoing 2 16 

FIIL    Birdalone  fares  on  her  Adventure   «      .      .      .  220 

IX.    Birdalone  comes  to  the  Black  Valley     .      .      .  224 
X.    How  Birdalone  fell  in  with  a  Man  in  the  Black 

Valley  of  the  Greywethers        .      .      .      .  227 

XL    Birdalone  is  led  up  the  Black  Valley     .      .      .  231 
XIL    How   those    Twain  get  them  from   out  of  the 

Black  Valley  of  the  Greywethers   .      .      .  235 

XI IL    Now  they  rest  for  the  Night  in  the  Strait  Pass  .  243 

XIV.     The  Black  Knight  tells  the  Truth  of  Hints ef  .  245 
XV.    The   Black   Knight    brings    Birdalone    to    the 

Bower  in  the   Dale 250 

XV I.     Tct  a  Day  and  a  Night  they  tarry  in  the  Dale  255 

The  Fifth  Part:   The  Tale  of  the  jest's  Ending 

Chap.    I.     Of  Sir  Leonard' s  Trouble  and  the  Coming  of 

the  Quest 263 

//.     Now  ask  they  of  Birdalone,  and  Sir  Leonard 

speaks 268 

///.    How  they  follow  the  Slot  of  Birdalone  and  the 

Black  Knight 271 

IV.     Of  the  Slaying  of  Friend  and  Foe  .      .      .      .  276 

V.     They  come  home  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest      .  283 


viii  CONTENTS 

PACE 

Cbap.  yi.    Of  the  Talk  betwixt  Birdalone  and  Viridis     .      285 
VII.    Birdalone  telleth  the  Tale  of  her  Wandering  up 

the  Valley  of  the  Greywethers  .      .      .      .      289 
VIII.    Atra  and  Birdalone  talk   together   while   the 

Lords  sit  at  the   Murder-council       .      .      305 
IX.    Hugh  tells  the  Story  of  the  Quest's  Ending       .      309 
X.    How  it  fared  with  the  Three  Ladies  after  the 

Escape  of  Birdalone 340 

XI.    Birdalone  and  the  Black  Squire  talk  together 

in  the  Hall  of  the  Castle 350 

XII.     The  Knights  and  their  Fellows  betake  them  to 

the  Assaulting  of  the  Red  Hold     .      .      .      355 
XIII.    Birdalone   bethinks  her  to  fulfil  the   Promise 

made  unto  Atra 358 

XIV.    Birdalone  leaves  the  Castle  of  the  Quest    .      .      364 

The  Sixth  Part :   The  Days  of  Absence 

Chap.    I.    Birdalone  rides  to  Greenford  and  there  takes 

Leave  of  Arnold  and  his  Men       .      .      .      366 
//.     Of  Birdalone  and  her  Fellowship,  their  Faring 

over  the  Down  land 372 

///.     They  come  to  the  City  of  the  Five  Crafts,  and 

Birdalone  meets  with  the  Poor-wife    .      .      374 
IV.    Of  the  Love  of  Gerard's  Sons  and  of  Jacobus 

for  Birdalone 385 

V.     Of  the  death  of  Audrey,  Mother  to  Birdalone. 
She  is  warned  in  a  Dream  to  seek  the  Black 
Squire,  and  is  minded  to  depart  the  City  of 
the  Five  Crafts,  and  seek  again  the  Castle 

of  the   Quest 389 

VI.     Of  the  Sundering   of  Birdalone  from   Gerard 

and  his  Sons 396 

VII.    Birdalone  cometh  to  Greenford,   and  hears   of 

the  Wasting  of  the  Castle  of  the  Quest     .      401 
VIII.    Birdalone  cometh  to  the   Castle  of  the  Quest, 
heareth  the   Tale  thereof  from  Leonard, 
and  departeth  thence  by  the  Sending  Boat     406 


CONTENTS 


a. 


PAGE 


^'2hap.  IX. 

X. 

XL 

XIL 
XI 11. 

XIV. 


XV. 

XVI. 
XVII. 


XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 


Birdalone  fndeth  the  Lie  of  Nothing  greatly 

bettered,  and  is  kindly  entreated  there     .      413 

Of   Birdalone' s    Flitting  from   the    Lie   of 

Nothifig 420 

Coming  to  the  Lie  of  Kings,  Birdalone  fndeth 
there  a  Score  and  Two  of  Fair  Damsels 
who  would  fain  have  her  Company      .      .      422 

Birdalone  cometh  again  to  the  Isle  of  Queens, 

and  fndeth  a  Perilous  Adventure  therein       427 

Coming  to  the  Isle  of  the  Toung  and  the  Old, 

Birdalone  fndeth  it  peopled  with  Children     438 

The  Sending  Boat  disappeareth  from  the  Isle 
of  liter  ease  Unsought,  and  Birdalone  seek- 
eth  to  escape  thence  by  Swimming       .      .      442 

Birdalone    lacketh    little    of  Drowning,    but 

cometh  latterly  to  the  Green  Eyot       .      .      446 

Birdalone  fndeth  her  Witch-mistress  dead     .      449 

Birdalone  layeth  to  Earth  the  Body  of  the 
Witch,  and  fndeth  the  Sending  Boat 
broken  up 454 

The   Wood-mother   cometh    to  Birdalone  and 

heareth  her  Story 458 

Habundia  hideth  Birdalone''  s  Nakedness  with 

Faery   Raiment 463 

Birdalone  tclleth  Habundia  of  her  Love  for 
Arthur,  and  getteth  from  her  Promise  of 
Help  therein 465 

How  the  Wood-wife   entered  the  Cot,  and  a 

Wonder  that  befell  thereon    .      .      .      .      468 

Birdalone  wendeth  the  Wildwood  in  Fellow- 
ship with  Habundia 472 

The    Wood-wife    bringeth    Birdalone   to   the 

Sight  of  Arthur  in  the  Wildwood      .      .      475 

The  Wood-mother  changeth  her  Form  to  that 

of  a  Woman  stricken  in  Tears       .      .      .      485 

The    Wood-wife    healeth    and    tendeth    the 

Black  Squire 489 


X  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

CJi>ap.  XXFI.     The  Black  Squire  telleth  the  Wood-wife 
of  his  Doings  since  Birdalone  went  from 

the  Castle  of  the  Q,uest 493 

XXVII.    Sir  Arthur  cometh  to  the  House  under  the 

Wood 500 

XX Fill.    Fair  Days  in  the  House  of  Love  .      .      .      503 
XXIX.     Those  Twain  will  seek  the  Wisdom  of  the 

Wood-wife 505 

XXX.     They   have   Speech  with  Habundia   con- 
cerning   the     Green    Knight    and    his 

Fellows 509 

XXXI.    Habundia  cometh  with    Tidings  of  those 

Dear  Friends 511 

XXXII.    Of  the  Fight  in  the  Forest  and  the  Rescue 
of  those  Friends  from  the  Men  of  the 

Red   Company 5 1 5f 

XXXIII.     Viridis  telleth  the  Tale  of  their  Seeking  .      525 


The  Seventh  Part :   The  Days  of  Returning 

Chap.  I.    Sir    Hugh  asketh   Birdalone  where  she  would 

have  the  Abode  of  their  Fellowship  to  be      .      53 
//.    Birdalone  taketh  Counsel  with  her  Wood-mother 

concerning  the  Matter  of  Sir  Hugh  .      .      .      53V 
///.     Of  the  Journeying  through  the  Forest  of  Evil- 

shaw  unto  the  Town  of  Utter  hay      .      .      .      541 
IF.    Of  the    Abiding    in     Utterhay    in    Love    and 

Contentment 55'* 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  FIRST  PART:  OF  THE 
HOUSE  OF  CAPTIVITY. 

CHAPTER  I.    CATCH  AT  UTTERHAY. 

WHILOM,  as  tells  the  tale,  was  a  walled 
cheaping-town  hight  Utterhay,  which  was 
builded  in  a  bight  of  the  land  a  little  off 
the  great  highway  which  went  from  over  the  moun- 
tains to  the  sea. 

The  said  town  was  hard  on  the  borders  of  a 
wood,  which  men  held  to  be  mighty  great,  or 
maybe  measureless  ;  though  few  indeed  had  en- 
tered it,  and  they  that  had,  brought  back  tales 
wild  and  confused  thereof 

Therein  was  neither  highway  nor  byway,  nor 
wood-reeve  nor  way-warden ;  never  came  chap- 
'^  man  thence  into  Utterhay  ;  no  man  of  Utterhay 
'^  was  so  poor  or  so  bold  that  he  durst  raise  the 
vj  hunt  therein  ;  no  outlaw  durst  flee  thereto  ;  no 
»  man  of  God  had  such  trust  in  the  saints  that  he 
*i    durst  build  him  a  cell  in  that  wood. 

For  all  men  deemed  it  more  than  perilous  ; 
and  some  said  that  there  walked  the  worst  of  the 
dead;  othersome  that  the  Goddesses  of  the  Gen- 
tiles haunted  there ;  others  again  that  it  was  the 
faery  rather,  but  they  full  of  malice  and  guile. 
But  most  commonly  it  was  deemed  that  the  devils 
swarmed  amidst  of  its  thickets,  and  that  whereso- 
ever a  man  sought  to,  who  was  once  environed  by 


2        THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

it,  ever  it  was  the  Gate  of  Hell  whereto  he  came. 
And  the  said  wood  was  called  Evilshaw. 

Nevertheless  the  cheaping-town  throve  not  ill  ; 
for  whatso  evil  things,  haunted  Evilshaw,  never 
came  they  int^  Utterhay  in*such  guise  that  men 
knew  them,  neither  wotted  they  of  any  hurt  that 
they  had  of  the  Devils  of  Evilshaw. 

Now  in  the  said  cheaping-town,  on  a  day,  it  was 
market  and  high  noon,  and  in  the  market-place 
was  much  people  thronging ;  and  amidst  of  them 
went  a  woman,  tall,  and  strong  of  aspect,  of  some 
thirty  winters  by  seeming,  black-haired,  hook- 
nosed and  hawk-eyed,  not  so  fair  to  look  on  as  mas- 
terful and  proud.  She  led  a  great  grey  ass  betwixt 
two  panniers,  wherein  she  laded  her  marketings. 
But  now  she  had  done  her  chaffer,  and  was  look*- 
ing  about  her  as  if  to  note  the  folk  for  her  disport ; 
but  when  she  came  across  a  child,  whether  it  were 
borne  in  arms  or  led  by  its  kinswomen,  or  were 
going  alone,  as  were  some,  she  seemed  more  heed- 
ful of  it,  and  eyed  it  more  closely  than  aught  else. 

So  she  strolled  about  till  she  was  come  to  the 
outskirts  of  the  throng,  and  there  she  happened 
on  a  babe  of  some  two  winters,  which  was  crawl- 
ing about  on  its  hands  and  knees,  with  scarce  a 
rag  upon  its  little  body.  She  watched  it,  and 
looked  whereto  it  was  going,  and  saw  a  woman 
sitting  on  a  stone,  with  none  anigh  her,  her  face 
bowed  over  her  knees  as  if  she  were  weary  or 
sorry.  Unto  her  crept  the  little  one,  murmuring 
and  merry,  and  put  its  arms  about  the  woman's 
legs,  and  buried  its  face  in  the  folds  of  her  gown  : 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  3 

she  looked  up  therewith,  and  showed  a  face  which 
had  once  been  full  fair,  but  was  now  grown  bony 
and  haggard,  though  she  were  scarce  past  five  and 
twenty  years.  She  took  the  child  and  strained  it 
to  her  bosom,  and  kissed  it,  face  and  hands,  and 
made  it  great  cheer,  but  ever  woefully.  The  tall 
stranger  stood  looking  down  on  her,  and  noted 
how  evilly  she  was  clad,  and  how  she  seemed  to 
have  nought  to  do  with  that  throng  of  thriving 
cheapeners,  and  she  smiled  somewhat  sourly. 

At  last  she  spake,  and  her  voice  was  not  so 
harsh  as  might  have  been  looked  for  from  her 
face  :  Dame,  she  said,  thou  seemest  to  be  less 
busy  than  most  folk  here  ;  might  I  crave  of  thee 
to  tell  an  alien  who  has  but  some  hour  to  dwell 
in  this  good  town  where  she  may  find  her  a  cham- 
ber wherein  to  rest  and  eat  a  morsel,  and  be  un- 
troubled of  ribalds  and  ill  company  ?  Said  the 
poor-wife :  Short  shall  be  my  tale ;  I  am  over 
poor  to  know  of  hostelries  and  ale-houses  that  I 
may  tell  thee  aught  thereof.  Said  the  other : 
Maybe  some  neighbour  of  thine  would  take  me 
in  for  thy  sake  ?  Said  the  mother :  What  neigh- 
bours have  I  since  my  man  died  ;  and  I  dying  of 
hunger,  and  in  this  town  of  thrift  and  abundance  ? 

The  leader  of  the  ass  was  silent  a  while,  then 
she  said  :  Poor  woman  !  I  begin  to  have  pity  on 
thee ;  and  I  tell  thee  that  luck  hath  come  to  thee 
to-day. 

Now  the  poor-wife  had  stood  up  with  the  babe 
in  her  arms  and  was  turning  to  go  her  ways ;  but 
the  alien  put  forth  a  hand  to  her,  and  said  :  Stand 


4       THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

a  while  and  hearken  good  tidings.  And  she  put 
her  hand  to  her  girdle-pouch,  and  drew  thereout 
a  good  golden  piece,  a  noble,  and  said :  When  I 
am  sitting  down  in  thine  house  thou  wilt  \ 
earned  this,  and  when  I  take  my  soles  out  thei  A 
there  will  be  three  more  of  like  countenance,  if  I 
be  content  with  thee  meanwhile. 

The  woman  looked  on  the  gold,  and  tears  came 
into  her  eyes  ;  but  she  laughed  and  said  :  Ho  ise- 
room  may  I  give  thee  for  an  hour  truly,  and  tl  ere- 
withal  water  of  the  well,  and  a  mouse's  me^l  of 
bread.  If  thou  deem  that  worth  three  no  )les, 
how  may  I  say  thee  nay,  when  they  may  save  the 
life  of  my  little  one.  But  what  else  wouldst  ho^ 
of  me  ?  Little  enough,  said  the  alien  ;  so  leau  me 
straight  to  thine  house. 

So  went  they  forth  of  the  market-place,  and  the 
woman  led  them,  the  alien  and  the  ass,  out  of  the 
street  through  the  west  gate  of  Utterhay,  that,  to 
wit,  which  looked  on  Evilshaw,  and  so  into  a  scat- 
tering street  without  the  wall,  the  end  of  which 
neared  a  corner  of  the  wood  aforesaid  :  the  houses 
there  were  nought  so  evil  of  fashion,  but  whereas 
they  were  so  nigh  unto  the  Devil's  Park,  rich  men 
might  no  longer  away  with  them,  and  they  were 
become  wares  for  poor  folk. 

Now  the  townswoman  laid  her  hand  on  the  latch 
of  the  door  that  was  hers,  and  threw  the  door  open  ; 
then  she  put  forth  her  palm  to  the  other,  and  said  : 
Wilt  thou  give  me  the  first  gold  now,  since  rest  is 
made  sure  for  thee,  as  long  as  thou  wilt  ?  The 
ass-leader  put  it  into  her  hand,  and  she  took  it  and 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   CAPTIVITY  5 

laid  it  on  her  baby's  cheek,  and  then  kissed  both 
gold  and  child  together ;  then  she  turned  to  the 
alieff.  and  said :  As  for  thy  way-beast,  I  have  nought 
foDiiim,  neither  hay  nor  corn  :  thou  wert  best  to 
leave  him  in  the  street.  The  stranger  nodded  a 
yea-say,  and  the  three  went  in  together,  the  mother, 
the  child,  and  the  alien. 

I*-fot  right  small  was  the  chamber ;  but  there  was 
littl''  therein  ;  one  stool  to  wit,  a  yew-chair,  a  little 
tabl  e,  and  a  coffer  :  there  was  no  fire  on  the  hearth, 
nought  save  white  ashes  of  small  wood  ;  but  it  was 
Jun3,  so  that  was  of  no  account. 

1  he  guest  sat  down  in  the  yew-chair,  and  the 
poor-wife  laid  her  child  down  gently  on  the  floor 
and  came  and  stood  before  the  stranger,  as  if  abid- 
ing her  bidding. 

Spake  the  alien  :  Nought  so  uncomely  or  strait 
is  thy  chamber  ;  and  thy  child,  which  I  see  is  a 
woman,  and  therefore  belike  shall  long  abide  with 
thee,  is  lovely  of  shape,  and  fair  of  flesh.  Now 
also  thou  shalt  have  better  days,  as  I  deem,  and  I 
pray  them  on  thine  head. 

She  spake  in  a  kind  wheedling  voice,  and  the 
poor-wife's  face  grew  softer,  and  presently  tears 
fell  down  on  to  the  table  from  her,  but  she  spake 
no  word.  The  guest  now  drew  forth,  not  three 
nobles,  but  four,  and  laid  them  on  the  table,  and 
said :  Lo,  my  friend,  the  three  nobles  which  I  be- 
hight  thee  !  now  are  they  thine  ;  but  this  other  thou 
shalt  take  and  spend  for  me.  Go  up  into  the  town, 
and  buy  for  me  white  bread  of  the  best ;  and  right 
good  flesh,  or  poulaine  if  it  may  be,  already  cooked 


6        THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  dight;  and,  withal,  the  best  wine  that  thou 
mayst  get,  and  sweetmeats  for  thy  baby  ;  and  when 
thou  comest  back,  we  will  sit  together  and  dine 
here.  And  thereafter,  when  we  be  full  of  meat 
and  drink,  we  shall  devise  something  more  for 
thy  good  speed. 

The  woman  knelt  before  her  weeping,  but  might 
speak  no  word  because  of  the  fullness  of  her  heart. 
She  kissed  the  guest's  hands,  and  took  the  money, 
and  then  arose  and  caught  up  her  child,  and  kissed 
her  bare  flesh  eagerly  many  times,  and  then  hastened 
out  of  the  house  and  up  the  street  and  through  the 
gate;  and  the  guest  sat  hearkening  to  the  sound  of 
her  footsteps  till  it  died  out,  and  there  was  nought 
to  be  heard  save  the  far-off  murmur  of  the  market, 
and  the  chirrup  of  the  little  one  on  the  floor. 

Then  arose  the  guest  and  took  up  the  child  from 
the  floor,  who  kicked  and  screamed,  and  craved  her 
mother  as  her  broken  speech  might ;  but  the  alien 
spake  softly  to  her,  and  said  :  Hush,  dear  one,  and 
be  good,  and  we  will  go  and  find  her  ;  and  she  gave 
her  therewith  a  sugar-plum  from  out  of  her  scrip. 
Then  she  came  out  of  doors,  and  spake  sweetly  to 
the  little  one  :  See  now  this  pretty  way-beast.  We 
will  ride  merrily  on  him  to  find  thy  mother. 

Then  she  laid  the  child  in  the  pannier  with  a  soft 
cushion  under,  and  a  silk  cloth  over  her,  so  that 
she  lay  there  happily.  Then  she  took  her  ass's 
rein  and  went  her  ways  over  the  waste  toward  Evil- 
shaw  ;  for,  as  ye  may  deem,  where  the  houses  and 
the  street  ended,  the  beaten  way  ended  also. 

Quietly  and  speedily  she  went,  and  met  but  three 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  7 

men  on  the  way  ;  and  when  these  saw  her,  and  that 
she  was  making  for  Evilshaw,  they  turned  their 
heads  away,  each  one,  and  blessed  themselves,  and 
went  past  swiftly.  Not  one  sought  to  stay  her,  or 
held  any  converse  with  her,  and  no  foot  she  heard 
following  after  her.  So  in  scarce  more  than  the 
saying  of  a  low  mass  she  was  in  amongst  the  trees, 
with  her  ass  and  her  wares  and  her  prey. 

No  stay  she  made  there,  but  held  forward  at  her 
best  before  the  night  should  fall  upon  her.  And 
whatsoever  might  be  told  concerning  the  creatures 
that  other  folk  had  met  in  Evilshaw,  of  her  it  must 
needs  be  said  that  therein  she  happened  on  nought 
worser  than  herself 


CHAPTER  II.    NOW  SHALL  BE  TOLD 
OF  THE  HOUSE  BY  THE  WATER-SIDE. 

FOUR  days  they  wended  the  wood,  and  nought 
befell  to  tell  of.  The  witch-wife  (for  even 
such  was  she)  fed  the  stolen  child  well  and 
duly,  and  whiles  caressed  her  and  spake  sweetly 
unto  her;  whiles  also  she  would  take  her  out  of 
the  pannier,  and  set  her  on  the  ass's  back  and  hold 
her  thereon  heedfully  ;  or,  otherwhiles,  when  they 
came  upon  grassy  and  flowery  places,  she  would  set 
her  down  on  the  ground  and  let  her  roam  about, 
and  pluck  the  flowers  and  the  strawberries.  And 
whoso  might  be  sorry,  the  child  was  glad,  so  many 
things  new  and  fair  as  she  came  upon. 

At  last,  when  the  fifth  day  was  waning,  and  they 
had  been  a  long  while  wending  a  wood  set  thick 
with  trees,  it  began  to  grow  grey  betwixt  the  dis- 
tant boles,  and  then  from  grey  to  white,  and  it  was 
as  if  a  new  world  of  light  lay  before  them.  Thither- 
ward went  they,  and  in  a  little,  and  before  the  sun 
was  set,  came  they  to  the  shore  of  a  great  water,  and 
thence  was  no  more  land  to  be  seen  before  them 
than  if  it  had  been  the  main  sea  itself,  though  this 
was  a  sweet  water.  Albeit,  less  than  a  half  mile 
from  the  shore  lay  two  eyots,  as  it  might  have  been 
on  the  salt  sea ;  but  one  of  these  sat  low  down  on 
the  water,  and  was  green  and  well  bushed,  but  the 
other,  which  lay  east  of  it,  and  was  nigher  to  the 
shore,  was  high,  rocky,  and  barren. 

Now  the  ending  of  the  wood  left  a  fair  green 
plain  betwixt  it  and  the  water,  whiles  more  than  a 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  9 

furlong  across,  whiles  much  less  ;  and  whiles  the 
trees  came  down  close  to  the  water-side.  But  the 
place  whereas  they  came  from  out  the  wood  was  of 
the  widest,  and  there  it  was  a  broad  bight  of  green- 
sward of  the  fashion  of  the  moon  seven  nights  old, 
and  a  close  hedg-e  of  thicket  there  was  at  the  back 
of  it;  and  the  lake  lay  south,  and  the  wood  north. 
Some  deal  of  this  greensward  was  broken  by  closes 
of  acre-land,  and  the  tall  green  wheat  stood  blos- 
soming therein  ;  but  the  most  was  sweet  meadow, 
and  there  as  now  was  a  gallant  flock  of  goats  feed- 
ing down  it:  five  kine  withal,  and  a  tethered  bull. 
Through  the  widest  of  this  meadow  ran  a  clear 
stream  winding  down  to  the  lake,  and  beside  a 
lap  of  the  said  stream,  two  bow-shots  from  the 
water,  was  a  knoll,  whereon  stood,  amidst  of  a 
potherb  garden,  a  little  house  strongly  framed  of 
timber.  Before  it  the  steep  bank  of  the  lake, 
broke  down  into  a  slowly-shelving  beach,  whose 
honey-coloured  sand  thrust  up  a  tongue  in  amongst 
the  grass  of  the  mead. 

Went  the  witch-wife  straight  to  the  door  of  the 
said  house  as  if  she  were  at  home,  as  was  sooth 
indeed.  She  threw  the  door  open,  and  unladed  the 
ass  of  all  his  wares,  and  first  of  the  youngling,  whom 
she  shook  awake,  and  bore  into  the  house,  and  laid 
safely  on  the  floor  of  the  chamber  ;  nor  did  she  wait 
on  her  wailing,  but  set  about  what  was  to  be  done 
to  kindle  fire,  and  milk  a  she-goat,  and  get  meat 
upon  the  board.  That  did  she,  and  fed  both  her- 
self and  the  child  plenteously  :  neither  did  she  stint 
her  of  meat  ever,  from  that  time  forward,  however 
else  she  dealt  with  her. 


CHAPTER   III.     OF   SKIN-CHANGING. 

ONE  thing  must  here  be  told  :  Whenas  the 
said  dame  stood  forth  clad  amidst  of  the 
chamber  the  next  morning,  the  child  ran 
up  to  her  to  greet  her  or  what  not,  but  straightway 
when  she  saw  her  close,  drew  aback,  and  stood 
gasping  with  affright ;  for  verily  she  deemed  this 
was  nowise  she  who  had  brought  her  last  night  into 
the  fair  chamber,  and  given  bread  and  milk  to  her 
and  put  her  to  bed,  but  someone  else.  For  this  one 
had  not  dark  hair,  and  hooked  nose,  and  eyen  hawk- 
bright  ;  stark  and  tall  was  she  indeed,  as  that  other 
one,  and  by  seeming  of  the  same-like  age ;  but  there 
came  to  an  end  all  her  likeness  to  last  night's  house- 
wife. This  one  had  golden-red  hair  flowing  down 
from  her  head  ;  eyes  of  hazel  colour,  long  and  not 
well-opened,  but  narrow  and  sly.  High  of  cheek- 
bones she  was,  long-chinned  and  thin-lipped  ;  her 
skin  was  fine  and  white,  but  without  ruddiness  ; 
flat-breasted  she  was,  and  narrow-hipped. 

Now  she  laughed  at  the  babe's  terror,  and  said, 
but  in  her  old  voice  at  least  :  Thou  foolish  little 
beast !  I  know  what  scares  thee,  to  wit,  that  thou 
deemest  me  changed  :  now  I  tell  thee  that  I  am 
the  one  who  brought  thee  here  last  night,  and  fed 
thee  ;  neither  is  my  changing  a  matter  of  thine, 
since  at  least  I  am  the  one  who  shall  keep  thee 
from  hunger  and  weather  henceforward ;  that  is 
enough  for  thee  to  know  as  now.  Now  thou  hast 
to  eat  and  sleep  and  play  and  cry  out,  that  thou 
mayest  the  sooner  wax,  and  grow  into  the  doing  of 
my  will. 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  II 

Therewith  she  led  her  out  into  the  sunshine,  and 
tethered  her  to  an  ash  sapling  which  grew  anigh 
the  door,  that  the  child  might  be  safe  the  while  she 
went  about  her  work  in  acre  and  mead. 

But  as  for  that  matter  of  changing  of  aspect, 
the  maiden  came  to  know  thereafter  that  the  witch 
durst  not  go  into  the  wood  in  the  same  skin  as 
that  which  she  wore  at  home,  wherefore  she  had 
changed  it  for  the  journey  to  Utterhay,  and  changed 
back  again  in  the  night-tide  before  she  arose. 


CHAPTER   IV.     OF  THE  WAXING  OF 
THE   STOLEN   CHILD. 

THIS  little  one,  who  is  henceforth  called  Bird- 
alone,  though  the  witch  called  her  but 
seldom  so,  nor  indeed  by  any  name,  dwelt 
there  betwixt  the  water  and  the  wood,  and  saw  none 
save  the  said  witch-wife,  who,  as  aforesaid,  fed  her 
well,  but  scarce  meddled  with  her  else  for  a  long 
while ;  so  she  wandered  well-nigh  as  she  had  will, 
and  much  in  the  wood  ;  for  she  had  no  fear  thereof, 
nor  indeed  of  aught  else  save  of  the  dame.  She 
learned  of  the  ways  and  the  wont  of  all  the  crea- 
tures round  about  her,  and  the  very  grass  and 
flowers  were  friends  to  her,  and  she  made  tales  of 
them  in  her  mind ;  and  the  wild  things  feared  her 
in  no  wise,  and  the  fowl  would  come  to  her  hand, 
and  play  with  her  and  love  her.  A  lovely  child 
she  was,  rosy  and  strong,  and  as  merry  as  the  birds 
on  the  bough  ;  and  had  she  trouble,  for  whiles  she 
came  across  some  ugly  mood  of  the  witch-wife,  she 
bore  it  all  as  lightly  as  they. 

Wore  the  years  thus,  till  now  she  was  grown 
tall  and  thin,  and  had  seen  twelve  winters,  and  was 
far  stronger  and  handier  than  at  first  sight  she 
looked  to  be.  That  found  her  mistress,  and  would 
not  forego  the  using  of  her  deftness.  For  indeed 
the  maiden  knew  all  matters  of  wood  and  field  full 
well,  and  somewhat  of  the  water  also  (though  no 
boat  had  she  ever  seen  there),  for  she  learned  her- 
self swimming,  as  the  ducks  do  belike. 

But  now  her  mistress  would  learn  her  swinking, 


OF    THE   HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  13 

and  hard  was  the  lesson,  for  with  twiggen  rods  and 
switches  was  she  learned,  and  was  somewhat  stub- 
born with  this  woman,  who  she  deemed  loved  her 
not ;  and,  however  it  were,  there  began  to  grow 
in  her  an  inkling  that  all  was  not  well  with  the 
dame,  and  howsoever  she  might  fear  her,  she  trusted 
her  not,  nor  worshipped  her ;  otherwise  she  had 
learned  her  lesson  speedily  ;  for  she  was  not  slack 
nor  a  sluggard,  and  hated  not  the  toil,  even  when 
it  pained  and  wearied  her,  but  against  the  anger 
and  malice  she  hardened  her  heart. 

It  is  to  be  said,  that  though  there  she  dwelt 
alone  with  the  witch-wife,  she  had  somehow  got  to 
know  that  they  two  were  not  alone  in  the  world,  and 
she  knew  of  male  and  female,  and  young  and  old. 
Thereof  doubtless  the  witch  herself  had  learned 
her,  would  she,  would  she  not ;  for  though  she  were 
mostly  few-spoken,  yet  whiles  the  tongue  of  her 
would  loosen,  and  she  would  tell  Birdalone  tales 
of  men  and  women,  and  kings  and  warriors  and 
thralls,  and  the  folk  of  the  world  beyond  them,  if 
it  were  but  to  scare  the  child.  Yea,  and  when  she 
rated  Birdalone,  or  girded  at  her,  words  would  come 
forth  which  the  maiden  stored  up,  and  by  laying 
two  and  two  together  gat  wisdom  howso  it  were. 
Moreover,  she  was  of  the  race  of  Adam,  and  her 
heart  conceived  of  diverse  matters  from  her  mother's 
milk  and  her  father's  blood,  and  her  heart  and  her 
mind  grew  up  along  with  her  body.  Herein  also 
was  she  wise,  to  wit,  how  to  give  wrath  the  go-by, 
so  that  she  oft  found  the  wood  a  better  home  than 
the  house  :  for  now  she  knew  that  the  witch-wife 


14     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS    ISLES 

would  enter  it  never  ;  wherefore  she  loved  it  much, 
and  haunted  it  daily  if  she  might. 

Amidst  all  this  she  lived  not  unmerrily  ;  for  the 
earth  was  her  friend,  and  solaced  her  when  she  had 
suffered  aught :  withal  she  was  soon  grown  hardy 
as  well  as  strong ;  and  evil  she  could  thole,  nor  let 
it  burden  her  with  misery. 


CHAPTER  V.  OF  BIRDALONE,  AND 
HOW  SHE  IS  GROWN  INTO  MAID- 
ENHOOD. 

WEAR  the  years  and  the  years  amidst  such 
days  as  these,  and  now  is  Birdalone 
grown  a  dear  maiden  of  seventeen  sum- 
mers ;  and  yet  was  her  life  not  unhappy  ;  though 
the  mirth  of  her  childhood  was  somewhat  chastened 
in  her,  and  she  walked  the  earth  soberly  and  meas- 
urely,  as  though  deep  thoughts  were  ever  in  her 
head :  though,  forsooth,  it  is  not  all  so  sure  that 
her  serious  face  and  solemn  eyes  were  but  a  part 
of  the  beauty  which  was  growing  with  the  coming 
forth  of  childhood  into  youth  and  maidenhood. 
But  this  at  least  is  sure,  that  about  this  time  those 
forebodings  which  had  shown  her  that  she  had  no 
call  to  love  and  honour  her  mistress  took  clearer 
shape,  and  became  a  burden  on  her,  which  she 
might  never  wholly  shake  off.  For  this  she  saw, 
that  she  was  not  her  own,  but  a  chattel  and  a  tool 
of  one  who  not  only  used  her  as  a  thrall  in  the 
passing  day,  but  had  it  in  her  mind  to  make  of 
her  a  thing  accursed  like  to  herself,  and  to  bait  the 
trap  with  her  for  the  taking  of  the  sons  of  Adam. 
Forsooth  she  saw,  though  dimly,  that  her  mistress 
was  indeed  wicked,  and  that  in  the  bonds  of  that 
wickedness  was  she  bound. 

One  thing,  moreover,  had  she  noted  now  this 
long  while,  that  once  and  again,  it  might  be  once 
every  two  moons,  the  witch-wife  v/ould  arise  in 
the  dead  of  night  and  go  forth  from  the  house. 


1 6     THE   WATER   OF   THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  be  away  for  a  day,  or  two  or  three,  or  whiles 
more,  and  come  back  again  weary  and  fordone ; 
but  never  said  she  any  word  to  Birdalone  hereof. 
Yet  oft  when  she  arose  to  go  this  errand,  before 
she  left  the  chamber  would  she  come  to  Birdalone's 
truckle-bed,  and  stand  over  her  to  note  if  she  were 
asleep  or  not ;  and  ever  at  such  times  did  Birdalone 
feign  slumber  amidst  of  sickening  dread.  Forsooth 
in  these  latter  days  it  whiles  entered  the  maiden's 
head  that  when  the  dame  was  gone  she  would  rise 
and  follow  her  and  see  whither  she  went,  and  what 
she  did ;  but  terror  constrained  her  that  she  went 
not. 

Now  from  amidst  all  these  imaginings  arose  a 
hope  in  her  that  she  might  one  day  escape  from 
her  thralldom  :  and  whiles,  when  she  was  lonely 
and  safe  in  the  wood,  to  this  hope  she  yielded  her- 
self; but  thereof  came  such  tumult  of  her  soul  for 
joy  of  the  hope,  that  she  might  not  master  her 
passion  ;  the  earth  would  seem  to  rise  beneath  her, 
and  the  woods  to  whirl  about  before  her  eyes,  so 
that  she  might  not  keep  her  feet,  but  would  sink 
adown  to  earth,  and  lie  there  weeping.  Then  most 
oft  would  come  the  cold  fit  after  the  hot,  and  the 
terror  would  take  her  that  some  day  the  witch 
would  surprise  the  joy  of  that  hope  in  her  eyes, 
and  would  know  what  it  meant,  or  that  some  light 
word  might  bewray  her  ;  and  therewith  came  ima- 
ginings of  what  would  then  befall  her,  nor  were 
that  hard  to  picture,  and  it  would  come  before  her 
over  and  over  again  till  she  became  weary  and 
worn  out  therewith. 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  17 

But  though  they  abode  ever  with  her,  these 
troubling  thoughts  pricked  not  so  oft  at  the  keen- 
est, but  were  as  the  dull  ache  of  little  import  that 
comes  after  pain  overcome  :  for  in  sooth  busy  and 
toilsome  days  did  she  wear,  which  irked  her  in  no- 
wise, since  it  eased  her  of  the  torment  of  those 
hopes  and  fears  aforesaid,  and  brought  her  sound 
sleep  and  sweet  awaking.  The  kine  and  the  goats 
must  she  milk,  and  plough  and  sow  and  reap  the 
acre-land  according  to  the  seasons,  and  lead  the 
beasts  to  the  woodland  pastures  when  their  own 
were  flooded  or  burned  ;  she  must  gather  the  fruits 
of  the  orchard,  and  the  hazel  nuts  up  the  wood- 
lands, and  beat  the  walnut-trees  in  September. 
She  must  make  the  butter  and  the  cheese,  grind 
the  wheat  in  the  quern,  make  and  bake  the  bread, 
and  in  all  ways  earn  her  livelihood  hard  enough. 
Moreover,  the  bowman's  craft  had  she  learned,  and 
at  the  dame's  bidding  must  fare  alone  into  the  wood 
now  and  again  to  slay  big  deer  and  little,  and  win 
venison  :  but  neither  did  that  irk  her  at  all,  for 
rest  and  peace  were  in  the  woods  for  her. 

True  it  is,  that  as  she  wended  thicket  or  glade 
or  wood-lawn,  she  would  at  whiles  grow  timorous, 
and  tread  light  and  heedfully,  lest  rustling  leaves 
or  crackling  stick  should  arouse  some  strange  crea- 
ture in  human  shape,  devil,  or  god  now  damned, 
or  woman  of  the  faery.  But  if  such  were  there, 
either  they  were  wise  and  would  not  be  seen,  or 
kind  and  had  no  will  to  scare  the  simple  maiden ; 
or  else  maybe  there  were  none  such  in  those  days. 
Anyhow,  nought  evil  came  to  her  out  of  Evilshaw. 


CHAPTER  VI.     HEREIN  IS   TOLD    OF 
BIRDALONE'S   RAIMENT. 

ANK  and  long  is  Birdalone  the  sweet,  with 
legs  that  come  forth  bare  and  browned  from 
under  her  scant  grey  coat  and  scantier  smock 
beneath,  which  was  all  her  raiment  save  when  the 
time  was  bitter,  and  then,  forsooth,  it  was  a  cloak 
of  goat-skin  that  eked  her  attire :  for  the  dame 
heeded  little  the  clothing  of  her  ;  nor  did  Birdalone 
give  so  much  heed  thereto  that  she  cared  to  risk 
the  anger  of  her  mistress  by  asking  her  for  aught. 

But  on  a  day  of  this  same  spring,  when  the  witch- 
wife  was  of  sweeter  temper  than  her  wont  was,  and 
the  day  was  very  warm  and  kindly,  though  it  was 
but  one  of  the  last  of  February  days,  Birdalone, 
blushing  and  shame-faced,  craved  timidly  some 
more  womanly  attire.  But  the  dame  turned  gruffly 
on  her  and  said  :  Tush,  child  !  what  needeth  it  ? 
here  be  no  men  to  behold  thee.  I  shall  see  to  it, 
that  when  due  time  comes  thou  shalt  be  whitened 
and  sleeked  to  the  very  utmost.  But  look  thou  ! 
thou  art  a  handy  wench  ;  take  the  deer-skin  that 
hangs  up  yonder  and  make  thee  brogues  for  thy 
feet,  if  so  thou  wilt. 

Even  so  did  Birdalone,  and  shaped  the  skin  to 
her  feet ;  but  as  she  was  sewing  them  a  fancy  came 
into  her  head ;  for  she  had  just  come  across  some 
threads  of  silk  of  divers  colours  ;  so  she  took  them 
and  her  shoon  and  her  needle  up  into  the  wood, 
and  there  sat  down  happily  under  a  great  spreading 
oak  which  much  she  haunted,  and  fell  to  broidering 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   CAPTIVITY  I9 

the  kindly  deer-skin.  And  she  got  to  be  long  about 
it,  and  came  back  to  it  the  next  day  and  the  next, 
and  many  days,  whenso  her  servitude  would  suffer 
it,  and  yet  the  shoon  were  scarce  done. 

So  on  a  morning  the  dame  looked  on  her  feet  as 
she  moved  about  the  chamber,  and  cried  out  at  her : 
What !  art  thou  barefoot  as  an  hen  yet  ?  Hast  thou 
spoilt  the  good  deer-skin  and  art  yet  but  shoeless  ? 
Nay,  our  lady,  said  Birdalone,  but  the  shoon  are 
not  altogether  done.  Show  them  to  me,  said  the 
dame. 

Birdalone  went  to  her  httle  coffer  to  fetch  them, 
and  brought  them  somewhat  timorously,  for  she 
knew  not  how  her  mistress  would  take  her  working 
on  them  so  long,  if  perchance  she  would  blame  her, 
or  it  might  be  chastise  her,  for  even  in  those  days 
the  witch-wife's  hand  was  whiles  raised  against  her. 
But  now  when  the  dame  took  the  shoes  and  looked 
on  them,  and  saw  how  there  were  oak-leaves  done 
into  them,  and  flowers,  and  coneys,  and  squirrels, 
she  but  smiled  somewhat  grimly  on  Birdalone,  and 
said  :  Well,  belike  thou  art  a  fool  to  waste  thy  time 
and  mine  in  such  toys  ;  and  to  give  thee  thy  due 
would  be  to  give  thee  stripes.  But  thou  doest  herein 
after  the  nature  of  earthly  women,  to  adorn  thy  body, 
whatsoever  else  is  toward.  And  well  is  that,  since 
I  would  have  thee  a  woman  so  soon  as  may  be  ;  and 
I  will  help  thy  mind  for  finery,  since  thou  art  so 
deft  with  thy  needle. 

Therewith  she  went  to  the  big  coffer  and  drew 
forth  thence  a  piece  of  fine  green  cloth,  and  another 
of  fine  linen,  and  said  to  Birdalone:   This  mayest 


20     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

thou  take,  and  make  thee  a  gown  thereof  and  a  new 
smock,  and  make  them  if  thou  wilt  as  gay  as  thy 
new  shoon  are  gotten  to  be ;  and  here  is  where- 
withal. And  therewith  she  gave  her  two  handfuls 
of  silken  threads  and  gold,  and  said  :  Now  I  sup- 
pose that  I  must  do  the  more  part  of  thy  work, 
while  thou  art  making  thee  these  gaudy  garments. 
But  maybe  someone  may  be  coming  this  way  ere 
long,  who  will  deem  the  bird  the  finer  for  her  fine 
feathers.  Now  depart  from  me  ;  for  I  would  both 
work  for  thee  and  me,  and  ponder  weighty  matters. 

Who  was  glad  now  but  Birdalone  ;  she  grew  red 
with  new  pleasure,  and  knelt  down  and  kissed  the 
witch's  hand,  and  then  went  her  ways  to  the  wood 
with  her  precious  lading,  and  wrought  there  under 
her  oak-tree  day  after  day,  and  all  days,  either  there, 
or  in  the  house  when  the  weather  was  foul.  That 
was  in  the  middle  of  March,  when  all  birds  were 
singing,  and  the  young  leaves  showing  on  the  haw- 
thorns, so  that  there  were  pale  green  clouds,  as  it 
were,  betwixt  the  great  grey  boles  of  oak  and  sweet- 
chestnut  ;  and  by  the  lake  the  meadow-saffron  new- 
thrust-up  was  opening  its  blossom  ;  and  March 
wore  and  April,  and  still  she  was  at  work  happily 
when  now  it  was  later  May,  and  the  hare-bells  were 
in  full  bloom  down  the  bent  before  her. 

All  this  while  the  witch  had  meddled  little  with 
Birdalone,  and  had  bidden  her  to  no  work  afield  or 
in  the  stead  which  was  anywise  grievous,  but  had 
done  all  herself;  yet  was  she  few-spoken  with  her, 
and  would  oft  behold  her  gloomily.  And  one  even- 
ing when   Birdalone  came  in  from  the  wood,  the 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  21 

witch  came  close  up  to  her  and  stared  her  in  the 
face,  and  said  suddenly  :  Is  it  in  thine  heart  to  flee 
away  from  me  and  leave  me  ? 

A  sharp  pang  of  fear  shot  through  Birdalone's 
heart  at  that  word,  and  she  turned  very  red,  and 
then  pale  to  the  lips,  but  stammered  out :  No, 
lady,  it  is  not  in  mine  heart.  The  dame  looked 
grimly  on  her  and  said  :  If  thou  try  it  and  fail, 
thou  shalt  rue  it  once  only,  to  wit,  lifelong ;  and 
thou  canst  but  fail.  She  was  silent  a  while,  and 
then  spake  in  a  milder  voice  :  Be  content  here  a 
while  with  me,  and  thereafter  thou  shalt  be  more 
content,  and  that  before  long. 

She  said  no  more  at  that  time  ;  but  her  word 
clave  to  Birdalone's  heart,  and  for  some  time  there- 
after she  was  sorely  oppressed  with  a  burden  of 
fear,  and  knew  not  how  to  hold  herself  before  the 
witch-wife.  But  the  days  wore,  and  nought  betid, 
and  the  maiden's  heart  grew  lighter,  and  still  she 
wrought  on  at  her  gown  and  her  smock,  and  it 
was  well-nigh  done.  She  had  broidered  the  said 
gown  with  roses  and  lilies,  and  a  tall  tree  springing 
up  from  amidmost  the  hem  of  the  skirt,  and  a 
hart  on  either  side  thereof,  face  to  face  of  each 
other.  And  the  smock  she  had  sewn  daintily  at 
the  hems  and  the  bosom  with  fair  knots  and  buds. 
It  was  now  past  the  middle  of  June,  hot  and  bright 
weather. 


CHAPTER   VII.       BIRDALONE    HATH 
AN   ADVENTURE    IN   THE   WOOD. 

ON  a  day  she  went  to  the  wood,  and  sat  down 
under  her  oak-tree,  and  it  was  far  and  far 
out  of  sight  of  anyone  standing  in  the 
meadow  by  the  lake;  and  in  the  wood  Birdalone 
looked  to  see  nought  at  all  save  the  rabbits  and 
squirrels,  who  were,  forsooth,  familiar  enough  with 
her,  and  fearless,  so  that  they  would  come  to  her 
hand  and  sport  with  her  when  she  hailed  them. 
Wherefore,  as  the  day  was  exceeding  hot,  she  put 
off  from  her  her  simple  raiment,  that  she  might 
feel  all  the  pleasure  of  the  cool  shadow  and  what 
air  was  stirring,  and  the  kindness  of  the  green- 
sward upon  her  very  body.  So  she  sat  sewing, 
covered  but  by  a  lap  of  the  green  gown  which  her 
needle  was  painting. 

But  as  she  sat  there  intent  on  her  work,  and  her 
head  bent  over  it,  and  it  was  now  at  the  point  of 
high  noon,  she  heard  as  if  some  creature  were  going 
anigh  to  her  ;  she  heeded  it  not,  deeming  that  it 
would  be  but  some  wandering  hind.  But  even 
therewith  she  heard  one  say  her  name  in  a  soft 
voice,  and  she  leapt  up  trembling,  deeming  at  first 
that  it  would  be  the  witch  come  to  fetch  her :  but 
yet  more  scared  she  was,  when  she  saw  standing 
before  her  the  shape  of  a  young  woman  as  naked 
as  herself,  save  that  she  had  an  oak  wreath  round 
about  her  loins. 

The  new-comer,  who  was  now  close  to  her, 
smiled  on  her,  and  said  in  a  kind  and  sweet  voice  : 


OF   THE   HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  23 

Fear  nought,  BIrdalone,  for  I  deem  thou  wilt  find 
me  a  friend,  and  it  is  not  unlike  that  thou  wilt  need 
one  ere  long.  And  furthermore,  I  will  say  it,  said 
she  smiling,  that  since  I  am  not  afraid  of  thee, 
thou  needest  not  be  afraid  of  me.  Said  Birdalone, 
she  also  smiling  :  True  it  is  that  thou  art  nought 
fearsome  to  look  on.  The  new-comer  laughed 
outright,  and  said  :  Are  we  not  well  met  then  in 
the  wildwood  ?  and  we  both  as  two  children  whom 
the  earth  loveth.  So  play  we  at  a  game.  At  what 
game  ?  said  Birdalone,  Spake  she  of  the  oak- 
wreath  :  This ;  thou  shalt  tell  me  what  I  am  like 
in  thine  eyes  first,  because  thou  wert  afraid  of  me  ; 
and  then  when  thou  art  done,  I  will  tell  thee  what 
thou  seemest  to  me. 

Quoth  Birdalone  :  For  me  that  will  be  hard  ;  for 
I  have  nought  to  liken  thee  to,  whereas  save  this 
sight  of  thee  I  have  seen  nought  save  her  that 
dwelleth  in  the  House  by  the  Water,  and  whom  I 
serve.  Nay,  said  the  other,  then  will  I  begin,  and 
tell  thee  first  whatlike  thou  art,  so  that  thou  wilt 
know  the  better  how  to  frame  thy  word  concern- 
ing me.  But  tell  me,  hast  thou  ever  seen  thyself 
in  a  mirror  ?  What  thing  is  that  ?  said  Birdalone. 
It  is  a  polished  round  of  steel  or  some  other  white 
metal,  said  the  wood-maiden,  which  giveth  back  in 
all  truth  the  image  of  whatso  cometh  before  it. 

Said  Birdalone,  and  reddened  therewith:  We  have 
at  home  a  broad  latten  dish,  which  it  is  my  work, 
amongst  other  things,  to  brighten  and  keep  bright; 
yet  may  I  not  make  it  so  bright  that  I  may  see 
much  of   mine  image    therein ;  and  yet.     What 


24     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

wouldst  thou  ?  said  the  wood-woman.  Said  Bird- 
alone  :  I  shall  tell  thee  presently  when  thy  part  of 
the  play  is  done. 

Laughed  the  new-comer,  and  said  :  It  is  well ; 
now  am  I  to  be  thy  mirror.  Thus  it  is  with  thee  : 
thou  standest  before  me  a  tall  and  slim  maiden, 
somewhat  thin,  as  befitteth  thy  seventeen  sum- 
mers ;  where  thy  flesh  is  bare  of  wont,  as  thy 
throat  and  thine  arms  and  thy  legs  from  the  mid- 
dle down,  it  is  tanned  a  beauteous  colour,  but 
otherwhere  it  is  even  as  fair  a  white,  wholesome 
and  clean,  and  as  if  the  golden  sunlight,  which 
fulfilleth  the  promise  of  the  earth,  were  playing 
therein.  Fairer  and  rounder  shall  be  thine  arms  and 
thy  shoulders  when  thou  hast  seen  five  more  sum- 
mers, yet  scarce  more  lovesome,  so  strong  and  fine 
as  now  they  are.  Low  are  thy  breasts,  as  is  meet 
for  so  young  a  maiden,  yet  is  there  no  lack  in 
them  ;  nor  ever  shall  they  be  fairer  than  now  they 
are.  In  goodly  fashion  sits  thine  head  upon  thy 
shoulders,  upheld  by  a  long  and  most  well-wrought 
neck,  that  the  sun  hath  tanned  as  aforesaid.  The 
hair  of  thee  is  simple  brown,  yet  somewhat  more 
golden  than  dark ;  and  ah  !  now  thou  lettest  it 
loose  it  waveth  softly  past  thy  fair  smooth  fore- 
head and  on  to  thy  shoulders,  and  is  not  stayed 
by  thy  girdlestead,  but  hideth  nought  of  thy  knees, 
and  thy  legs  shapely  thin,  and  thy  strong  and 
clean-wrought  ankles  and  feet,  which  are  with  thee 
as  full  of  thine  heart  and  thy  soul  and  as  wise  and 
deft  as  be  thy  wrists  and  thine  hands,  and  their 
very  fellows.     Now  as  to  thy  face  :  under  that 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  25 

smooth  forehead  is  thy  nose,  which  is  of  measure, 
neither  small  nor  great,  straight,  and  lovely  carven 
at  the  nostrils  :   thine  eyen  are  as  grey  as  a  hawk's, 
but  kind  and  serious,  and  nothing  fierce  nor  shift- 
ing.    Nay,  now  thou  lettest  thine  eyelids  fall,  it 
is  as   fair  with   thy  face   as  if  they  were  open,  so 
smooth  and  simple  are   they  and  with   their  long 
full  lashes.      But  well  are  thine  eyen  set  in  thine 
head,  wide  apart,  well  opened,  and  so  as  none  shall 
say  thou   mayst  not  look    in    the  face  of  them. 
Thy  cheeks  shall  one  day  be  a  snare  for  the  un- 
wary,  yet  are  they   not  fully   rounded,  as  some 
would   have    them  ;  but   not   I,   for  most   pitiful 
kind  are  they  forsooth.      Delicate  and  clear-made 
is  the  little  trench  that  goeth  from  thy  nose  to 
thy  lips,  and  sweet  it  is,  and  there  is  more  might 
in  it  than  in  svv^eet  words  spoken.     Thy  lips,  they 
are  of  the  finest  fashion,  yet  rather  thin  than  full ; 
and   some  would   not   have  it   so ;   but   I   would, 
whereas  I   see  therein  a  sign  of  thy  valiancy  and 
friendliness.     Surely  he  who  did  thy  carven  chin 
had  a  mind  to  a  master-work  and  did  no   less. 
Great  was  the  deftness  of  thine  imaginer,  and  he 
would  have  all  folk  that  see  thee  wonder  at  thy 
deep  thinking  and  thy  carefulness  and  thy  kind- 
ness.    Ah  maiden  !   is  it  so  that  thy  thoughts  are 
ever  deep  and  solemn  ?     Yet  at   least  I  know  it 
of  thee  that  they  be  hale  and  true  and  sweet. 

My  friend,  when  thou  hast  a  mirror,  some  of 
all  this  shalt  thou  see,  but  not  all ;  and  when  thou 
hast  a  lover  some  deal  wilt  thou  hear,  but  not  all. 
But  now  thy  she-friend  may  tell  it  thee  all,  if  she 


l6     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

have  eyes  to  see  it,  as  have  I  ;  whereas  no  man 
could  say  so  much  of  thee  before  the  mere  love 
should  overtake  him,  and  turn  his  speech  into  the 
folly  of  love  and  the  madness  of  desire.  So  now 
I  have  played  the  play,  and  told  thee  of  thee  ;  tell 
me  now  of  me,  and  play  thy  play. 

For  a  while  stood  Birdalone  silent,  blushing 
and  confused,  but  whiles  casting  shy  glances  at  her 
own  body,  what  she  might  see  of  it.  At  last  she 
spake  :  Fair  friend,  I  would  do  thy  will,  but  I  am 
not  deft  of  speech  ;  for  I  speak  but  little,  save 
with  the  fowl  and  wild  things,  and  they  may  not 
learn  me  the  speech  of  man.  Yet  I  will  say  that 
I  wonder  to  hear  thee  call  me  fair  and  beauteous  ; 
for  my  dame  tells  me  that  never,  nor  sayeth  aught 
of  my  aspect  save  in  her  anger,  and  then  it  is  : 
Rag  !  and  bag-of-bones  !  and  when  wilt  thou  be  a 
woman,  thou  lank  elf  thou  ?  The  new-comer 
laughed  well-favouredly  hereat,  and  put  forth  a 
hand,  and  stroked  her  friend's  cheek.  Birdalone 
looked  piteous  kind  on  her  and  said  :  But  now  I 
must  needs  believe  thy  words,  thou  who  art  so 
kind  to  me,  and  withal  thyself  so  beauteous.  And 
I  will  tell  thee  that  it  fills  my  heart  with  joy  to 
know  that  I  am  fair  like  to  thee.  For  this  more- 
over I  will  tell  thee,  that  I  have  seen  nought  in 
field  or  woodland  that  is  as  lovely  to  me  as  thou 
art ;  nay,  not  the  fritillary  nodding  at  our  brook's 
mouth,  nor  the  willow-boughs  waving  on  Green 
Eyot ;  nor  the  wild-cat  sporting  on  the  little  wood- 
lawn,  when  she  saw  me  not ;  nor  the  white  doe 
rising  up  from  the  grass  to  look  to  her  fawn  ;  nor 


OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   CAPTIVITY  27 

aught  that  moves  and  grows.  Yet  there  is  another 
thinsf  which  I  must  tell  thee,  to  wit,  that  v/hat  thou 
hast  said  about  the  fashion  of  any  part  of  me,  that 
same,  setting  aside  thy  lovely  words,  which  make 
the  tears  come  into  the  eyes  of  me,  would  I  say 
of  thee.  Look  thou  !  I  take  thine  hair  and  lay 
the  tress  amongst  mine,  and  thou  mayst  not  tell 
which  is  which  ;  and  amidst  the  soft  waves  of  it 
thy  forehead  is  nestling  smooth  as  thou  saidst  of 
mine  :  hawk-grey  and  wide  apart  are  thine  eyen, 
and  deep  thought  and  all  tenderness  is  in  them,  as 
of  me  thou  sayest :  fine  is  thy  nose  and  of  due 
measure ;  and  thy  cheeks  a  little  hollow,  and 
somewhat  thin  thy  lovely  lips ;  and  thy  round 
chin  so  goodly  carven,  as  it  might  not  be  better 
done.  And  of  thy  body  else  1  will  say  as  thou 
sayst  of  mine,  though  I  deem  these  hands  have 
done  more  work  than  thine.  But  see  thou  !  thy 
leg  and  mine  as  they  stand  together;  and  thine 
arm,  as  if  it  were  of  my  body.  Slim  and  slender 
thou  art,  or  it  may  be  lank  ;  and  I  deem  our  dame 
would  call  thee  also  bag-of-bones.  Now  is  this 
strange.  Who  art  thou  ?  Art  thou  my  very  own 
sister  ?      I  would  thou  wert. 

Spake  then  to  Birdalone  that  image  of  her,  and 
said,  smiling  kindly  on  her :  As  to  our  likeness, 
thou  hast  it  now;  so  alike  are  we,  as  if  we  were 
cast  in  one  mould.  But  thy  sister  of  blood  I  am 
not ;  nay,  I  will  tell  thee  at  once  that  I  am  not 
of  the  children  of  Adam.  As  to  what  I  am,  that 
is  a  long  story,  and  I  may  not  tell  it  as  now ;  but 
thou   mayst   call   me    Habundia,   as    I    call   thee 


28     THE   WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS   ISLES 

Birdalone.  Now  it  is  true  that  to  everyone  I 
show  not  myself  in  this  fair  shape  of  thee ;  but 
be  not  aghast  thereat,  or  deem  me  like  unto  thy 
mistress  herein,  for  as  now  I  am,  so  ever  shall  I 
be  unto  thee. 

Quoth  Birdalone,  looking  on  her  anxiously : 
Yea,  and  I  shall  see  thee  again,  shall  I  not  ?  else 
should  I  grieve,  and  wish  that  I  had  never  seen 
thee  at  all.  Yea,  forsooth,  said  Habundia,  for  I 
myself  were  most  fain  to  see  thee  oft.  But  now 
must  thou  presently  get  thee  back  home,  for  evil 
as  now  is  the  mood  of  thy  mistress,  and  she  is 
rueing  the  gift  of  the  green  gown,  and  hath  in 
her  mind  to  seek  occasion  to  chastise  thee. 

Now  was  Birdalone  half  weeping,  as  she  did 
on  her  raiment  while  her  friend  looked  on  her 
kindly.  She  said  presently :  Habundia,  thou 
seest  I  am  hard  bestead  ;  give  me  some  good  rede 
thereto. 

That  will  I,  said  the  wood-wife.  When  thou 
goest  home  to  the  house,  be  glad  of  countenance, 
and  joyous  that  thy  gown  is  nigh  done;  and 
therewith  be  exceeding  wary.  For  I  deem  it 
most  like  that  she  will  ask  thee  what  thou  hast 
seen  in  the  wood,  and  then  if  thou  falter,  or  thy 
face  change,  then  she  will  have  an  inkling  of 
what  hath  befallen,  to  wit,  that  thou  hast  seen 
someone ;  and  then  will  she  be  minded  to  ques- 
tion thy  skin.  But  if  thou  keep  countenance 
valiantly,  then  presently  will  her  doubt  run  off 
her,  and  she  will  cease  grudging,  and  will  grow 
mild  with  thee  and  meddle  not.     This  is  the  first 


OF    THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  29 

rede,  and  is  for  to-day ;  and  now  for  the  second, 
which  is  for  days  yet  unborn.  Thou  hast  in  thy 
mind  to  flee  away  from  her ;  and  even  so  shalt 
thou  do  one  day,  though  it  may  be  by  way  of 
Weeping  Cross  ;  for  she  is  sly  and  wise  and  grim, 
though  sooth  it  is  that  she  hateth  thee  not  utterly. 
Now  thou  must  note  that  nowise  she  hindereth 
thee  from  faring  in  this  wood,  and  that  is  because 
she  wotteth,  as  I  do,  that  by  this  way  there  is  no 
outgoing  for  thee.  Wherefore  look  thou  to  it 
that  it  is  by  the  way  of  the  water  that  thou  shalt 
fare  to  the  land  of  men-folk.  Belike  this  may 
seem  marvellous  to  thee  ;  but  so  it  is  ;  and  belike 
I  may  tell  thee  more  hereof  when  time  serveth. 
Now  Cometh  the  last  word  of  my  rede.  Maybe 
if  thou  come  often  to  the  wood,  we  shall  whiles 
happen  on  each  other ;  but  if  thou  have  occasion 
for  me,  and  wouldst  see  me  at  once,  come  hither, 
and  make  fire,  and  burn  a  hair  of  my  head  therein, 
and  I  will  be  with  thee  :  here  is  for  thee  a  tress  of 
mine  hair ;  now  thou  art  clad,  thou  mayst  take  a 
knife  from  thy  pouch  and  shear  it  from  off  me. 

Even  so  did  Birdalone,  and  set  the  tress  in  her 
pouch  ;  and  therewith  they  kissed  and  embraced 
each  other,  and  Birdalone  went  her  ways  home  to 
the  house,  but  Habundia  went  back  into  the  wood 
as  she  had  come. 


CHAPTER  VIII.   OF  BIRDALONE  AND 
THE   WITCH-WIFE. 

IT  went  with  Birdalone  as  Habundia  had  fore- 
told, for  she  came  home  to  the  house  glad  of 
semblance,  flushed  and  light-foot,  so  that  she 
was  lovely  and  graceful  beyond  her  wont.  The 
dame  looked  on  her  doubtfully  and  grimly  a  while, 
and  then  she  said :  What  ails  thee,  my  servant, 
that  thou  lookest  so  masterful  ?  Nought  ails  me, 
lady,  said  Birdalone,  save  that  I  am  gay  because 
of  the  summer  season,  and  chiefly  because  ot  thy 
kindness  and  thy  gift,  and  that  I  have  well-nigh 
done  my  work  thereon,  and  that  soon  now  I  shall 
feel  these  dainty  things  beating  about  my  ankles. 
And  she  held  up  and  spread  abroad  the  skirt  with 
her  two  hands,  and  it  was  indeed  goodly  to  look 
on. 

The  witch-wife  snorted  scornfully  and  scowled 
on  her,  and  said :  Thine  ankles  forsooth  !  Bag-o'- 
bones  !  thou  wisp  !  forsooth,  thou  art  in  love  with 
thy  looks,  though  thou  knowest  not  what  like  a 
fair  woman  is.  Forsooth,  I  begin  to  think  that 
thou  wilt  never  grow  into  a  woman  at  all,  but  will 
abide  a  skinny  elf  thy  life  long.  Belike  I  did  my- 
self wrong  to  suffer  thee  to  waste  these  three  or 
four  months  of  thy  thrall's  work,  since  for  nought 
but  thrall's  work  shalt  thou  ever  be  meet. 

Birdalone  hung  her  head  adown,  and  blushed, 
but  smiled  a  little,  and  swayed  her  body  gently,  as 
a  willow-bough  is  swayed  when  a  light  air  arises  in 
the  morning.     But  the  witch  stood  so  scowling  on 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   CAPTIVITY  31 

her,  and  with  so  sour  a  look,  that  Birdalone,  glan- 
cing at  her,  found  her  heart  sink  so  within  her,  that 
she  scarce  kept  countenance ;  yet  she  lost  it  not. 

Then  said  the  witch  sharply  :  Wert  thou  in  the 
wood  to-day  ?  Yea,  lady,  said  the  maiden.  Then 
said  the  dame  fiercely :  And  what  sawest  thou  ^ 
Quoth  Birdalone,  looking  up  with  an  innocent  face 
somewhat  scared :  Lady,  I  saw  a  bear,  one  of  the 
big  ones,  crossing  a  glade.  And  thou  without  bow 
and  arrow  or  wood-knife,  I  warrant  me,  said  the 
witch.  Thou  shalt  be  whipped,  to  keep  thee  in 
mind  that  thy  life  is  mine  and  not  thine.  Nay, 
nay,  I  pray  thee  be  not  wroth  !  said  the  maid ;  he 
was  a  long  way  down  the  glade,  and  would  not 
have  followed  me  if  he  had  seen  me :  there  was 
no  peril  therein.  Said  the  witch-wife  :  Didst  thou 
see  aught  else  ?  Yea,  said  Birdalone,  and  was  weep- 
ing somewhat  now  ;  which  forsooth  was  not  hard 
for  her  to  do,  over-wrought  as  she  was  betwixt 
hope  and  fear :  yea,  I  saw  my  white  doe  and  her 
fawn,  and  they  passed  close  by  me  ;  and  two  herons 
flew  over  my  head  toward  the  water;  and  But 
the  witch  turned  sharply  and  said :  Thrall !  hast 
thou  seen  a  woman  to-day  in  the  wood .?  A  wo- 
man ?  said  Birdalone,  and  what  woman,  my  lady, 
said  Birdalone.  Hath  any  woman  come  to  the 
house,  and  passed  forth  into  the  wood  ? 

The  dame  looked  on  her  carefully,  and  remem- 
bered how  she  had  faltered  and  changed  counte- 
nance that  other  day,  when  she  had  charged  her 
with  being  minded  to  flee ;  and  now  she  saw  her 
with  wondering  face,  and  in  no  wise  confused  or 


32     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

afraid  of  guilt,  as  it  seemed ;  so  she  believed  her 
tale,  and  being  the  more  at  ease  thereby,  her  wrath 
ran  off  her,  and  she  spake  altogether  pleasantly  to 
Birdalone,  and  said :  Now  I  have  had  my  gird  at 
thee,  my  servant,  I  must  tell  thee  that  in  sooth 
it  is  not  all  for  nothing  that  thou  hast  had  these 
months  of  rest;  for  verily  thou  hast  grown  more  of 
a  woman  thereby,  and  hast  sleekened  and  rounded 
much.  Albeit,  the  haysel  will  wait  no  longer  for 
us,  and  the  day  after  to-morrow  we  must  fall 
to  on  it.  But  when  that  is  done,  thou  shalt  be  free 
to  do  thy  green  gown,  or  what  thou  wilt,  till  wheat 
harvest  is  toward  ;  and  thereafter  we  shall  see  to  it. 
Or  what  sayest  thou  ? 

Birdalone  wondered  somewhat  at  this  so  gra- 
cious word,  but  not  much  ;  for  in  her  heart  now  was 
some  guile  born  to  meet  the  witch's  guile ;  so  she 
knelt  down  and  took  the  dame's  hands  and  kissed 
them,  and  said :  I  say  nought,  lady,  save  that  I 
thank  thee  over  and  over  again  that  thou  art  be- 
come so  good  to  me ;  and  that  I  will  full  merrily 
work  for  thee  in  the  hay-field,  or  at  whatsoever 
else  thou  wilt. 

And  indeed  she  was  so  light-hearted  that  she 
had  so  escaped  from  the  hand  of  the  witch  for  that 
time,  and  above  all,  that  she  had  gotten  a  friend  so 
kind  and  dear  as  the  wood-woman,  that  her  heart 
went  out  even  toward  her  mistress,  so  that  she 
went  nigh  to  loving  her. 


CHAPTER    IX.     OF    BIRDALONE'S 
SWIMMING. 

FULL  fair  was  the  morrow  morn,  and  Bird- 
alone  arose  betimes  before  the  sun  was  up, 
and  she  thought  she  would  make  of  this  a 
holiday  before  the  swink  afield  began  again,  since 
the  witch  was  grown  good  toward  her.  So  she  did 
on  her  fair  shoes,  and  her  new  raiment,  though  the 
green  gown  was  not  fully  done,  and  said  to  herself 
that  she  would  consider  what  she  would  do  with 
her  holiday  when  she  was  amidst  of  her  bathing. 

So  she  went  down  to  the  water-side,  and  when 
she  was  standing  knee-deep  in  the  little  sandy  bight 
aforesaid,  she  looked  over  to  Green  Eyot,  and  was 
minded  to  swim  over  thither,  as  oft  she  did.  And 
it  was  a  windless  dawn  after  a  hot  night,  and  a  light 
mist  lay  upon  the  face  of  the  water,  and  above  it 
rose  the  greenery  of  the  eyot. 

She  pushed  off  into  the  deep  and  swam  strongly 
through  the  still  water,  and  the  sun  rose  while  she 
was  on  the  way,  and  by  then  she  had  laid  a  hand 
on  the  willow-twigs  of  the  eyot,  was  sending  a  long 
beam  across  the  waters  ;  and  her  wet  shoulders  rose 
up  into  the  path  of  it  and  were  turned  into  ruddy 
gold.  She  hoisted  herself  up,  and  climbing  the  low 
bank,  was  standing  amongst  the  meadow-sv/eet,  and 
dripping  on  to  its  fragrance.  Then  she  turned  about 
to  the  green  plain  and  the  house  and  the  hedge  of 
woodland  beyond,  and  sighed,  and  said  softly  :  A 
pity  of  it,  to  leave  it !  If  it  were  no  better  other- 
where, and  not  so  fair  ? 

3 


34     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Then  she  turned  inward  to  the  eyot,  which  had 
done  her  nought  but  good,  and  which  she  loved ; 
and  she  unbound  her  hair,  and  let  it  fall  till  the  ends 
of  the  tresses  mingled  with  the  heads  of  the  meadow- 
sweet, and  thereafter  walked  quietly  up  into  the 
grassy  middle  of  the  isle. 

She  was  wont  to  go  to  a  knoll  there  where  the 
grass  was  fine,  and  flowery  at  this  time  with  white 
clover  and  dog  violet,  and  lie  down  under  the  shade 
of  a  big  thorn  with  a  much-twisted  bole :  but  to- 
day some  thought  came  across  her,  and  she  turned 
before  she  came  to  the  thorn,  and  went  straight  over 
the  eyot  (which  was  but  a  furlong  over  at  that  place) 
and  down  to  the  southward-looking  shore  thereof. 
There  she  let  herself  softly  down  into  the  water  and 
thrust  off  without  more  ado,  and  swam  on  and  on 
till  she  had  gone  along  way.  Then  she  communed 
with  herself,  and  found  that  she  was  thinking :  If 
I  might  only  swim  all  the  water  and  be  free. 

And  still  she  swam  on  :  and  now  a  light  wind  had 
been  drawn  up  from  the  west,  and  was  driving  a 
little  ripple  athwart  the  lake,  and  she  swam  the  swift- 
lier  for  it  awhile,  but  then  turned  over  on  her  back 
and  floated  southward  still.  Till  on  a  sudden,  as  she 
lay  looking  up  toward  the  far-away  blue  sky,  and 
she  so  little  and  low  on  the  face  of  the  waters,  and 
the  lake  so  deep  beneath  her,  and  the  wind  coming 
ever  fresher  from  the  west,  and  the  ripple  rising 
higher  against  her,  a  terror  fell  upon  her,  and  she 
longed  for  the  green  earth  and  its  well-wrought  little 
blossoms  and  leaves  and  grass ;  then  she  turned  over 
again  and  swam  straight  for  the  eyot,  which  now 
was  but  a  little  green  heap  far  away  before  her. 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  35 

Long  she  was  ere  she  made  land  there,  and  the 
sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  when  she  came,  all  spent 
and  weary,  to  theshadowof  the  hawthorn-tree;  and 
she  cast  herself  down  there  and  fell  asleep  straight- 
way. Forsooth  her  swim  was  about  as  much  as 
she  had  might  for. 

When  she  awoke  it  lacked  but  an  hour  of  noon- 
tide, and  she  felt  the  life  in  her  and  was  happy,  but 
had  no  will  to  rise  up  for  a  while ;  for  it  was  a  joy 
to  her  to  turn  her  head  this  way  and  that  to  the 
dear  and  dainty  flowers,  that  made  the  wide,  grey, 
empty  lake  seem  so  far  away,  and  no  more  to  be 
dealt  with  than  the  very  sky  itself. 

At  last  she  arose,  and  when  she  had  plucked  and 
eaten  somehandfuls  of  the  strawberries  which  grew 
plenteously  on  the  sweet  ground  of  the  eyot,  she 
went  down  to  the  landward-looking  shore,  and  took 
the  water,  and  swam  slowly  across  the  warm  ripple 
till  she  came  once  more  to  the  strand  and  her  rai- 
ment. She  clad  herself,  and  set  her  hand  to  her 
pouch  and  drew  forth  bread,  and  sat  eating  it  on 
the  bank  above  the  smooth  sand.  Then  she  looked 
around,  and  stood  up  with  her  face  toward  the  house, 
to  see  if  the  dame  would  call  to  her.  But  she  saw 
the  witch  come  out  of  the  porch  and  stand  there 
looking  under  the  sharp  of  her  hand  toward  her, 
and  thereafter  she  went  back  again  into  the  house 
without  giving  any  sign.  Wherefore  Birdalone 
deemed  that  she  had  leave  that  day,  and  that  she 
might  take  yet  more  holiday;  so  she  stepped  lightly 
down  from  her  place  of  vantage,  turned  her  face  to- 
ward the  east,  and  went  quietly  along  the  very  lip 
of  the  water. 


CHAPTER  X.    BIRDALONE  COMES  ON 
NEW  TIDINGS. 

SOON  she  had  covered  up  the  house  from  her, 
for  on  that  eastern  end,  both  a  tongue  of  the 
woodland  shoved  out  west  into  the  meadow, 
and,  withal,  the  whole  body  of  the  wood  there  drew 
down  to  the  water,  and  presently  cut  off  all  the  green- 
sward save  a  narrow  strip  along  by  the  lake,  off  the 
narrowest  whereof  lay  the  rocky  eyot  aforesaid, 
nigher  unto  the  shore  than  lay  Green  Eyot. 

Now  never  had  Birdalone  gone  so  far  east  as  to 
be  over  against  Rock  Eyot.  In  her  childish  days 
the  witch  had  let  her  know  that  she  might  go  where 
she  would,  but  therewith  had  told  her  a  tale  of  a 
huge  serpent  which  dwelt  in  the  dark  wood  over 
against  Rock  Eyot,  whose  wont  it  was  to  lap  his 
folds  round  and  round  living  things  that  went  there, 
and  devour  them ;  and  many  an  evil  dream  had  that 
evil  serpent  brought  to  Birdalone.  In  after  days 
belike  she  scarce  trowed  in  the  tale,  yet  the  terror 
of  it  abode  with  her.  Moreover  the  wildwood 
toward  that  side,  as  it  drew  toward  the  water,  was 
dark  and  dreary  and  forbidding,  running  into  black 
thickets  standing  amidst  quagmires,  all  unlike  to  the 
sweet,  clean  upland  ridges,  oak  begrown  and  green- 
swarded,  of  the  parts  which  lay  toward  the  north, 
and  which  she  mostly  haunted. 

But  this  summer  day,  which  was  so  bright  and 
hot,  Birdalone  deemed  she  might  harden  her  heart 
to  try  the  adventure  ;  and  she  had  a  mind  to  enter 
the  wood  thereby,  and  win  her  way  up  into  the 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  37 

Oakland  whereas  she  had  met  Habundia,  and  per- 
chance she  might  happen  on  her  ;  for  she  would 
not  dare  to  summon  her  so  soon  after  their  first 
meeting.  And  if  she  met  her,  there  would  be  the 
holiday  worthily  brought  to  an  end  ! 

On  went  Birdalone,  and  was  soon  at  the  nar- 
rowest of  the  greensward,  and  had  the  wood  black 
on  her  left  hand,  for  the  trees  of  it  were  mostly 
alder.  But  when  she  was  come  just  over  against 
Rock  Eyot,  she  found  a  straight  creek  or  inlet  of 
the  water  across  her  way ;  and  the  said  creek  ran 
right  up  into  the  alder  thicket ;  and,  indeed,  was 
much  overhung  by  huge  ancient  alders,  gnarled, 
riven,  mossy,  and  falling  low  over  the  water.  But 
close  on  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  on  Birdalone's 
side  thereof,  lay  a  thing  floating  on  the  dull  water, 
which  she  knew  not  how  to  call  a  boat,  for  such 
had  she  never  seen,  nor  heard  of,  but  which  was 
indeed  a  boat,  oarless  and  sailless. 

She  looked  on  it  all  about,  and  wondered ;  yet 
she  saw  at  once  that  it  was  for  wending  the  water, 
and  she  thought,  might  she  but  have  a  long  pole, 
she  might  push  it  about  the  shallow  parts  of  the 
lake,  and  belike  take  much  fish.  She  tried  to  shove 
it  somewhat  toward  the  lake,,  but  with  her  little 
might  could  make  nothing  of  the  work  ;  for  the 
craft  was  heavy,  like  a  barge,  if  there  were  nothing 
else  that  withstood  her. 

About  this  new  thing  she  hung  a  long  while, 
wondering  that  she  had  never  heard  thereof,  or 
been  set  to  toil  therewith.  She  noted  that  it  was 
mostly  pale  grey  of  hue,  as  if  it  had  been  bleached 


38     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

by  sun  and  water,  but  at  the  stem  and  stern  were 
smears  of  darker  colour,  as  though  someone  had 
been  trying  the  tints  of  staining  there. 

Now  so  much  did  this  new  matter  take  up  all 
her  mind,  that  she  thought  no  more  of  going  up 
into  the  wood ;  but  though  she  had  fain  abided 
there  long  to  see  whatever  might  be  seen,  she  deemed 
it  would  go  ill  with  her  did  the  witch  happen  on 
her  there;  wherefore  she  turned  about,  and  went 
back  the  way  she  had  come,  going  very  slowly  and 
pondering  the  tidings.  And  ever  she  called  to  mind 
what  Habundia  had  said  to  her,  that  it  was  by  water 
she  must  flee,  and  wondered  if  she  had  sent  her  this 
thing  that  she  might  escape  therein;  so  different  as 
her  going  would  be  thereby  to  swimming  the  lake 
with  her  wet  body.  Then  again  she  thought,  that 
before  she  might  let  herself  hope  this,  it  were  best, 
if  she  might,  to  find  out  from  the  witch  what  was 
the  thing,  and  if  she  knew  thereof.  Yet  at  last  she 
called  to  mind  how  little  patient  of  questions  was 
her  mistress,  and  that  if  she  were  unheedful  she 
might  come  to  raise  an  evil  storm  about  her. 
Wherefore  she  took  this  rede  at  the  last,  that  she 
would  keep  all  hidden  in  her  own  breast  till  she 
should  see  Habundia  again  ;  and  meanwhile  she 
might  steal  down  thither  from  time  to  time  to  see 
if  the  thing  still  abode  there  ;  which  she  might  the 
easier  do  by  swimming  if  she  chose  her  time  heed- 
fully,  and  go  thither  from  Rock  Eyot,  which  now 
and  again  she  visited. 


CHAPTER  XI.  OF  BIRDALONE'S  GUILT 
AND  THE  CHASTISEMENT  THEREOF. 

BY  this  she  was  come  back  to  the  sandy  bight, 
and  the  sun  was  westering;  and  she  looked 
up  toward  the  house  and  saw  that  it  was  the 
time  of  their  evening  meal,  for  the  blue  smoke  of 
the  cooking  fire  was  going  up  into  the  air.  So  she 
went  thither  speedily,  and  entered  gay  of  seeming. 
The  witch  looked  on  her  doubtfully,  but  presently 
fell  to  speaking  with  her  graciously  as  yesterday, 
and  Birdalone  was  glad  and  easy  of  mind,  and  went 
about  the  serving  of  her  ;  for  always  she  ate  after 
the  dame  ;  and  the  mistress  asked  her  of  many 
matters  concerning  the  house,  and  the  gathering 
of  stuff. 

So  came  the  talk  on  the  fishing  of  the  brook 
that  ran  before  their  door,  and  how  the  trouts 
therein  were  but  little,  and  not  seldom  none  at  all; 
and  even  therewith  came  these  words  into  Bird- 
alone's  mouth,  she  scarce  knew  how  :  My  lady, 
why  do  we  not  fish  the  lake,  whereas  there  be  shoal 
places  betwixt  us  and  the  eyots  where  lie  many  and 
great  fish,  as  I  have  seen  when  I  have  been  swim- 
ming thereover  ?  And  now  in  that  same  creek 
whereas  the  serpent  used  to  lurk  when  I  was  lit- 
tle, we  have  a  thing  come,  which  is  made  to  swim 
on  the  water ;  and  I,  could  I  have  a  long  pole  to 
shove  withal. 

But  no  time  she  had  to  make  an  end,  ere  the 
witch-wife  sprang  up  and  turned  on  her  with  a  snarl 
as  of  an  evil  dog,  and  her  face  changed  horribly  : 


40     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

her  teeth  showed  grinning,  her  eyes  goggled  in  her 
head,  her  brow  was  all  to-furrowed,  and  her  hands 
clenched  like  iron  springs. 

Birdalone  shuddered  back  from  her  and  cringed 
in  mere  terror,  but  had  no  might  to  cry  out.  The 
witch  hauled  her  up  by  the  hair,  and  dragged  her 
head  back  so  that  her  throat  lay  bare  before  her  all 
along.  Then  drew  the  witch  a  sharp  knife  from 
her  girdle,  and  raised  her  hand  over  her,  growling 
and  snarling  like  a  wolf  But  suddenly  she  dropped 
the  knife,  her  hand  fell  to  her  side,  and  she  fell  in  a 
heap  on  the  floor  and  lay  there  hushed. 

Birdalone  stood  gazing  on  her,  and  trembling  in 
every  limb  ;  too  confused  was  she  to  think  or  do 
aught,  though  some  image  of  flight  through  the  open 
door  passed  before  her:  but  her  feet  seemed  of  lead, 
and,  as  in  an  evil  dream,  she  had  no  might  to  move 
her  limbs,  and  the  minutes  went  by  as  she  stood 
there  half  dead  with  fear. 

At  last,  (and  belike  it  was  no  long  while)  the 
witch-wife  came  to  herself  again,  and  sat  up  on  the 
floor,  and  looked  all  about  the  chamber,  and  when 
her  eyes  fell  upon  Birdalone,  she  said  in  a  weak 
voice,  yet  joyfully  ;  Hah  !  thou  art  there  still,  my 
good  servant !  Then  she  said  :  A  sickness  fell 
upon  me  suddenly,  as  whiles  it  is  wont ;  but  now 
am  I  myself  again  ;  and  presently  I  have  a  word 
for  thee. 

Therewith  she  rose  up  slowly,  Birdalone  helping 
her,  and  sat  in  her  big  chair  silent  awhile,  and  then 
she  spake :  My  servant,  thou  hast  for  the  more 
part  served  me  well :  but  this  time  thou  hast  done 


OF    THE    HOUSE   OF    CAPTIVITY  4I 

ill,  whereas  thou  hast  been  spring  on  my  ways  ; 
whereof  may  come  heavy  trouble  but  if  we  look  to 
it.  Well  is  it  for  thee  that  thou  hast  none  unto 
whom  thou  mightest  babble;  for  then  must  I  needs 
have  slain  thee  here  and  noW.  But  for  this  first 
time  I  pardon  thee,  and  thou  hast  escaped  the 
wrath. 

Her  voice  was  soft  and  wheedling;  but  for  Bird- 
alone  the  terror  had  entered  into  her  soul,  and  yet 
abode  with  her. 

The  witch-wife  sat  a  while,  and  then  arose  and 
went  about  the  chamber,  and  came  to  a  certain 
aumbry  and  opened  it,  and  drew  forth  a  little  flasket 
of  lead  and  a  golden  cup  scored  over  with  strange 
signs,  and  laid  them  on  the  board  beside  her  chair, 
wherein  she  now  sat  down  again,  and  spake  once 
more,  still  in  the  same  soft  and  wheedling  voice : 
Yet,  my  servant,  thy  guilt  would  be  required  of 
me,  if  I  let  this  pass  as  if  to-day  were  the  same  as 
yesterday  ;  yea,  and  of  thee  also  would  it  be  re- 
quired ;  therefore  it  is  a  part  of  the  pardon  that 
thou  be  corrected  :  and  the  correction  must  be  terri- 
ble to  thee,  that  thou  mayst  remember  never  again 
to  thrust  thyself  into  thejaws  of  death.  And  what 
may  I  do  to  correct  thee  ?  It  shall  be  in  a  strange 
way,  such  as  thou  hast  never  dreamed  of  Yet  the 
anguish  thereof  shall  go  to  thine  heart's  root ;  but 
this  must  thou  needs  bear,  for  my  good  and  thine, 
so  that  both  we  may  live  and  be  merry  hereafter. 
Go  now,  fill  this  cup  with  water  from  the  spring 
and  come  back  with  it.  Birdalone  took  the  cup 
with  a  sinking  heart,  and  filled  it,  and  brought  it 


42     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

back,  and  stood  before  the  witch  more  dead  than 
alive. 

Then  the  witch-wife  took  up  the  flasket  and 
pulled  out  the  stopple  and  betook  it  to  Birdalone, 
and  said  :  Drink  of  this  now,  a  little  sip,  no  more. 
And  the  maiden  did  so,  and  the  liquor  was  no  sooner 
down  her  gullet  than  the  witch-wife  and  the  cham- 
ber, and  all  things  about  her,  became  somewhat  dim 
to  her ;  but  yet  not  so  much  so  as  that  she  could 
not  see  them.  But  when  she  stretched  out  her 
arm  she  could  see  it  not  at  all,  nor  her  limbs  nor 
any  other  part  of  her  which  her  eyes  might  fall 
upon.  Then  would  she  have  uttered  a  lamentable 
wail,  but  the  voice  was  sealed  up  in  herand  no  sound 
came  from  her  voice.  Then  she  heard  the  witch- 
wife  how  she  said  (and  yet  she  heard  it  as  if  her 
voice  came  from  afar).  Nay,  thou  canst  not  speak, 
and  thou  canst  not  see  thyself,  nor  may  any  other, 
save  me,  and  I  but  dimly.  But  this  is  but  part  of 
what  I  must  lay  upon  thee  ;  for  next  I  must  give 
thee  a  new  shape,  and  that  both  thyself  and  all 
other  may  see.  But,  before  I  do  that,  I  must 
speak  a  word  to  thee,  which  thy  new  shape  would 
not  suffer  the  sense  thereof  to  reach  to  thine  heart. 
Hearken  ! 


CHAPTER  XII.    THE  WORDS  OF  THE 
WITCH-WIFE  TO    BIRDALONE. 

SAID  the  witch-wlfe :  When  thou  comest  to 
thyself  (for  it  is  not  my  will  that  thou  should- 
est  never  have  thine  own  shape  again),  doubt- 
less the  first  thing  which  thoushalt  do  with  thy  new- 
gained  voice  and  thy  new-gained  wit  shall  be  to 
curse  me,  and  curse  me  again.  Do  as  thou  wilt 
herein  ;  but  I  charge  thee,  disobey  me  not,  for  that 
shall  bring  thee  to  thy  bane.  For  if  thou  do  not 
my  bidding,  and  if  thou  pry  into  my  matters,  and 
lay  bare  that  which  I  will  have  hidden,  then  will  it 
be  imputed  unto  thee  for  guilt,  and  will  I,  will  I  not, 
I  must  be  avenged  on  thee  even  to  slaying :  and 
then  is  undone  all  the  toil  and  pain  I  have  had  in 
rearing  thee  into  a  deft  and  lovely  maiden.  Deem 
thou,  then,  this  present  anguish  kind  to  thee,  to 
keep  thee  that  thou  come  not  to  nought. 

Now  since  I  have  begun  speaking,  I  will  go  on  ; 
for  little  heretofore  have  I  spoken  to  thee  what  was 
in  mine  heart.  Well  I  wot  that  thou  thinkest  of 
me  but  as  of  an  evil  dream,  whereof  none  can  aught 
but  long  to  awake  from  it.  Yet  I  would  have  thee 
look  to  this  at  least ;  that  I  took  thee  from  poverty 
and  pinching,  and  have  reared  thee  as  faithfully  as 
ever  mother  did  to  child :  clemming;  thee  never, 
smiting  thee  not  so  oft,  and  but  seldom  cruelly. 
Moreover,  I  have  suffered  thee  to  go  whereso  thou 
wouldest,  and  have  compelled  thee  to  toil  for  nought 
but  what  was  needful  for  our  two  livelihoods.  And 
I  have  not  stayed  thy  swimmings  in  the  lake,  nor 


44     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

thy  wanderings  in  the  wood,  and  thou  hast  learned 
bowshot  there,  till  thou  art  now  a  past-master  in 
the  craft :  and,  moreover,  thou  art  swift-foot  as  the 
best  of  the  deer,  and  mayest  over-run  any  one  of 
them  whom  thou  wilt. 

Soothly  a  merry  life  hast  thou  had  as  a  child, 
and  merry  now  would  be  thy  life,  save  for  thine 
hatred  of  me.  Into  a  lovely  lily-lass  hast  thou 
grown.  That  I  tell  thee  now,  though  my  wont 
has  been  to  gird  at  thee  for  the  fashion  of  thy 
body  ;  that  was  but  the  word  of  the  mistress  to  the 
thrall.  And  now  what  awaiteth  thee  ?  For  thou 
mayst  say :  I  am  lonely  here,  and  there  is  no  man 
to  look  on  me.  Of  what  avail,  therefore,  is  my 
goodliness  and  shapeliness  ?  Child,  I  answer  thee 
that  the  time  is  coming  when  thou  shalt  see  here 
a  many  of  the  fairest  of  men,  and  then  shalt  thou 
be  rather  rose  than  lily,  and  fully  come  to  woman- 
hood ;  and  all  those  shall  love  and  worship  thee, 
and  thou  mayst  gladden  whom  thou  wilt,  and  whom 
thou  wilt  mayst  sadden  ;  and  no  lack  soever  shalt 
thou  have  of  the  sweetness  of  love,  or  the  glory  of 
dominion. 

Think  of  it  then  !  All  this  is  for  thee  if  thou 
dwell  here  quietly  with  me,  doing  my  will  till  thy 
womanhood  hath  blossomed.  Wherefore  I  be- 
seech and  pray  thee  put  out  of  thy  mind  the 
thought  of  fleeing  from  mt.  For  if  thou  try  it, 
one  of  two  things  shall  be  :  either  I  shall  bring 
thee  back  and  slay  thee,  or  make  thee  live  in  mis- 
ery of  torment ;  or  else  thou  wilt  escape,  and  then 
what  will  it  be?    Dost  thou  know  how  it  shall  go 


OF    THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  45 

with  thee,  coming  poor  and  nameless,  an  outcast, 
into  the  world  of  men  ?  Lust  shalt  thou  draw 
unto  thee,  but  scarce  love.  I  say  an  outcast  shalt 
thou  be,  without  worship  or  dominion  ;  thy  body 
shall  be  a  prey  to  ribalds,  and  when  the  line  flower 
thereof  hath  faded,  thou  shalt  find  that  the  words 
of  thy  lovers  were  but  mockery.  That  no  man 
shall  love  thee,  and  no  woman  aid  thee.  Then 
shall  Eld  come  to  thee  and  find  thee  at  home  with 
Hell ;  and  Death  shall  come  and  mock  thee  for 
thy  life  cast  away  for  nought,  for  nought.  This  is 
my  word  to  thee :  and  now  I  have  nought  to  do 
to  thee  save  to  change  thee  thy  skin,  and  therein 
must  thou  do  as  thou  canst,  but  it  shall  be  no  ugly 
or  evil  shape  at  least.  But  another  time  maybe  I 
shall  not  be  so  kind  as  to  give  thee  a  new  shape, 
but  shall  let  thee  wander  about  seen  by  none  but 
me.  Then  she  took  the  cup  and  took  water  in  the 
hollow  of  her  hand  and  cast  it  into  Birdalone's  face, 
and  muttered  words  withal ;  and  presently  she  saw 
herself  indeed,  that  she  was  become  a  milk-white 
hind  ;  and  she  heard  and  saw  again,  but  not  as  she, 
the  maiden,  was  wont  to  hear  and  see ;  for  both 
her  hearing  and  seeing  and  her  thought  was  of  a 
beast  and  not  of  a  maiden. 

Said  the  witch-wife  :  It  is  done  now,  till  I  give 
thee  grace  again  ;  and  now  be  off  into  the  field ; 
but  if  thou  stray  more  than  half  a  bowshot  from 
the  brook,  it  shall  be  the  worse  for  thee.  And 
now  the  day  was  done  and  night  was  come. 


CHAPTER  XIII.     BIRDALONE   MEET- 
ETH  THE  WOOD-WOMAN  AGAIN. 

IT  was  fifteen  days  thereafter  that  Birdalone  awoke 
lying  in  her  bed  on  a  bright  morning,  as  if 
all  this  had  been  but  a  dream.  But  the  witch- 
wife  was  standing  over  her  and  crying  out :  Thou 
art  late,  slug-a-bed,  this  fair-weather  day,  and  the 
grass  all  spoiling  for  lack  of  the  scythe.  Off!  and 
down  to  the  meadow  with  thee. 

Birdalone  waited  not  for  more  words,  but  sprang 
out  of  bed,  and  had  her  work-a-day  raiment  on  in 
a  twinkling,  and  stayed  but  to  wash  her  in  a  pool 
of  the  brook,  and  then  was  amidst  the  tall  grass  with 
the  swathe  falling  before  her.  As  she  worked  she 
thought,  and  could  scarce  tell  whether  joy  at  her 
present  deliverance,  or  terror  of  the  witch-wife,  were 
the  greatest.  Sore  was  her  longing  to  go  see  her 
friend  in  the  wood,  but  the  haysel  lasted  more  than 
a  week,  and  when  that  was  done,  whether  it  were  of 
set  purpose  or  no,  the  dame  forgat  her  other  pro- 
mise, to  give  Birdalone  more  holiday,  and  kept  her 
close  to  her  work  about  meadow  and  acre.  Other- 
wise her  mistress  nowise  mishandled  or  threatened 
her,  though  she  had  gone  back  to  the  surliness  and 
railing  which  was  her  wont.  At  last,  on  a  morning 
when  the  dame  had  bidden  her  to  nought  of  work, 
Birdalone  took  her  bow  in  her  hand  and  cast  her 
quiver  on  her  back,  and  went  her  ways  into  the  wood, 
and  forgat  not  the  tress  of  Habundia's  hair;  but 
she  had  no  need  to  use  it,  for  when  she  was  come 
to  the  Oak  of  Tryst,  straightway  came  Habundia 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  47 

forth  from  the  thicket,  and  now  so  like  to  Birdalone 
that  it  was  a  wonder,  for  as  her  friend  she  bare  bow 
and  quiver,  and  green  gown  trussed  up  till  her  knees 
were  naked. 

So  they  kissed  and  embraced,  and  Birdalone  wept 
upon  her  friend's  bosom,  but  was  ashamed  of  the 
words  which  would  have  told  her  of  her  case.  Then 
Habundia  set  her  down  upon  the  greensward,  and 
sat  down  beside  her,  and  caressed  her  and  soothed 
her  ;  then  she  smiled  on  Birdalone,  and  said  :  Thy 
tale  is  partly  told  without  words,  and  I  would  weep 
for  thee  if  I  might  shed  tears.  But  thou  mayest 
tell  me  wherefore  thou  didst  suffer  this ;  though 
forsooth  I  have  an  inkling  thereof  Hast  thou 
happened  on  the  witch's  ferry  ? 

Even  so  it  was,  sister,  quoth  Birdalone.  And 
therewith  she  plucked  up  heart,  and  told  her  all 
the  tale  of  the  vanishing  of  her  body  and  the  skin- 
changing.  And  Habundia  answered  :  Well  then, 
there  is  this  to  be  said,  that  sooner  or  later  this  must 
have  happened,  for  thereby  lieth  thy  road  of  escape ; 
wherefore  it  is  better  sooner  than  later.  But  tell  me 
again :  was  she  fierce  and  rough  in  words  with  thee  ? 
for  what  she  said  to  thee  thou  hast  not  yet  told  me. 
Said  Birdalone  :  In  her  first  fury,  when  she  was  like 
to  have  slain  me,  she  had  no  words,  nought  but 
wolfish  cries.  But  thereafter  she  spake  unto  me 
strangely,  yet  neither  fiercely  nor  roughly  ;  nay,  it 
seemed  to  me  as  if  almost  she  loved  me.  And  more 
than  almost  she  besought  me  rather  than  com- 
manded me  not  to  flee  from  her.  And  wert  thou 
beguiled  by  her  soft  speech  ?   said  Habundia.     No- 


48      THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

wise  to  cast  aside  my  hope  of  escape,  nay,  not  even 
in  that  hour,  said  Birdalone ;  but  amidst  all  the 
confusion  and  terror  somewhat  was  I  moved  to 
compassion  on  her. 

Spake  Habundia,  looking  anxiously  on  her : 
Dost  thou  deem  that  thou  art  somewhat  cowed  by 
what  she  hath  done  to  thee  ?  Said  Birdalone,  and 
flushed  very  red  :  Oh  no,  no  !  Nought  save  death 
or  bonds  shall  come  betwixt  me  and  my  utmost 
striving  for  escape.  That  is  better  than  well,  said 
Habundia;  but  again,  canst  thou  have  patience  a 
little,  and  be  wary  and  wise  the  while?  So  me- 
seemeth,  said  the  maiden.  Said  Habundia  :  Again 
it  is  well.  Now  is  the  summer  beginning  to  wane, 
and  by  my  rede  thou  shalt  not  try  the  flight  until 
May  is  come  again  and  well-nigh  worn  into  June; 
for  thou  wilt  be  bigger  then,  little  sister,  and  tidings 
are  waxing  that  shall  get  matters  ready  for  thy  de- 
parture :  moreover,  thou  must  yet  learn  what  thou 
hast  to  do  meanwhile,  and  thereof  shall  I  tell  thee 
somewhat  as  now.  For  that  boat,  the  thing  which 
thou  didst  find,  and  for  which  thou  didst  suffer,  is 
called  the  Sending  Boat,  and  therein  thy  mistress 
fareth  time  and  again,  I  deem  to  seek  to  some  other 
of  her  kind,  but  I  know  not  unto  whom,  or  whereto. 
Hast  thou  noted  of  her  that  whiles  she  goeth  away 
privily  by  night  and  cloud  ?  Yea,  verily,  said  Bird- 
alone, and  this  is  one  of  the  things  which  hereto- 
fore hath  made  me  most  afraid.  Said  Habundia: 
Well  now,  that  she  wendeth  somewhither  in  this 
ferry  I  wot ;  but  as  I  wot  not  whither,  so  also  I 
know  not  what  she  doth  with  the  Sending  Boat  to 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   CAPTIVITY  49 

make  it  obey  her;  whereas,  though  I  know  all 
things  of  the  wood,  I  know  but  little  of  the  lake. 
Wherefore,  though  there  be  peril  to  thee  therein, 
follow  her  twice  or  thrice  when  she  riseth  up  for 
this  faring,  and  note  closely  what  is  her  manner  of 
dealing  with  the  said  Sending  Boat,  so  that  thou 
mayst  do  in  like  wise.  Wilt  thou  risk  the  smart 
and  the  skin-changing,  or  even  if  it  were  the  stroke 
of  the  knife,  to  gather  this  wisdom  ?  And  there- 
after thou  shalt  come  hither  and  tell  me  how  thou 
hast  sped.  With  a  good  heart  will  I,  dear  sister, 
said  Birdalone. 

Then  Habundia  kissed  her  and  said  :  It  is  a  joy 
to  me  to  see  thee  so  valiant,  but  herein  may  I  help 
thee  somewhat ;  here  is  a  gold  finger-ring,  see  thou  ! 
fashioned  as  a  serpent  holding  his  tail  in  his  mouth  ; 
whenso  thou  goest  on  this  quest,  set  thou  this  same 
ring  on  the  middle  finger  of  thy  left  hand,  and  say 
thou  above  thy  breath  at  least : 

To  left  and  right. 
Before,  behind. 
Of  me  be  sight 
As  of  the  wind! 

And  nought  then  shall  be  seen  of  thee  even  by  one 
who  standeth  close  beside.  But  wear  not  the  ring 
openly  save  at  such  times,  or  let  the  witch  have 
sight  thereof  ever,  or  she  will  know  that  thou  hast 
met  me.  Dost  thou  understand,  and  canst  thou 
remember  ? 

Laughed  Birdalone,  and  took  the  ring  and  set  it 
on  her  finger,  and  spake  aloud  even  as  Habundia 


4 


50     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

had  given  her  the  words.  Then  quoth  Habundia, 
laughing :  Now  have  I  lost  my  friend  and  sister, 
for  thou  art  gone,  Birdalone.  Take  off  the  ring, 
sweetling,  and  get  thee  to  thine  hunting,  for  if  thou 
come  home  empty-handed  there  will  be  flyting 
awaiting  thee,  or  worse. 

So  Birdalone  took  off  the  ring  and  came  back  to 
sight  again  laughing  ;  then  the  wood-woman  kissed 
her  and  turned  her  heels  to  her,  and  was  gone  ;  but 
Birdalone  strung  her  bow,  and  got  to  her  wood- 
craft, and  presently  had  a  brace  of  hares,  wherewith 
she  went  back  home  to  the  dame  ;  who  indeed  girded 
at  her  for  her  sloth,  and  her  little  catch  in  so  long  a 
while  ;  but  there  it  ended. 


CHAPTER  XIV.     OF    BIRDALONE'S 
FISHING. 

NOW  were  the  days  wearing  toward  wheat- 
harvest,  and  nought  befel  to  tell  of,  save 
that  on  a  morn  the  witch-wife  called  Bird- 
alone  to  her,  and  said  :  Now  is  little  to  be  done  till 
the  wheat  is  ready  for  the  hook,  and  thy  days  are 
idle ;  or  what  is  that  word  that  fell  from  thee  that 
other  day,  that  there  be  good  swims  for  fish  about 
the  eyots  ?  Canst  thou  swim  across  bearing  thine 
angle,  and  back  again  therewith,  and  thy  catch 
withal  ?  Yea,  certes,  said  Birdalone  gaily  ;  with  one 
hand  I  may  swim  gallantly,  or  with  my  legs  alone, 
if  I  stir  mine  arms  ever  so  little.  I  will  go  straight- 
way if  thou  wilt,  lady ;  but  give  me  a  length  of 
twine  so  that  I  may  tie  my  catch  about  my  middle 
when  I  swim  back  again. 

Therewith  she  went  forth  lightly  to  fetch  her 
angle,  which  was  in  a  shed  without ;  but  just  as  she 
took  it  in  her  hand,  a  sudden  thought  came  to  her, 
so  wary  as  she  was  grown.  She  undid  the  bosom 
of  her  gown,  and  took  forth  her  serpent-ring  ;  for 
she  bore  it  next  to  her  skin,  made  fast  to  the  bosom 
of  her  smock ;  but  now  she  hid  it  carefully  in  the 
thickest  of  her  brow-hair,  which  was  very  thick 
and  soft.  Withal  the  tress  of  Habundia's  hair  she 
bore  ever  mingled  with  her  own. 

No  sooner  had  she  done  it,  but  she  was  glad  ; 
for  she  heard  the  dame  calling  her,  who,  when  she 
came  to  the  house-door,  spake  and  said :  Now  shall  I 
fare  with  thee  down  to  the  water,  and  look  to  thy 


52     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

garments  lest  they  be  fouled  by  some  straying  beast. 
And  therewith  she  looked  curiously  on  Birdalone, 
and  knit  her  brows  when  she  saw  that  the  maiden 
changed  countenance  in  nowise. 

Down  to  the  water  went  they,  and  the  witch  sat 
down  close  to  where  Birdalone  should  take  the 
water,  and  watched  her  do  ofFher  raiment,  and  eyed 
her  keenly  when  she  was  bare,  but  said  nought. 
Birdalone  turned  her  head  as  she  stood  knee-deep, 
and  said  :  How  long  shall  I  abide,  lady,  if  I  have 
luck  ?  As  long  as  thou  wilt,  said  the  dame  :  most 
like  I  shall  be  gone  by  then  thou  comest  back,  even 
if  thou  be  away  no  long  while. 

Fell  Birdalone  to  swimming  then,  and  when  she 
was  more  than  half  over,  the  witch,  stirring  no  more 
than  need  was,  got  hold  of  her  raiment,  which  was 
but  the  old  grey  coat  over  a  smock,  and  ransacked 
it,  but  found  nought,  as  well  ye  may  wot.  And 
when  she  had  done,  she  sat  down  again  in  heavy 
mood  as  it  seemed,  and  watched  Birdalone  swim- 
ming, and  when  she  beheld  her  body  come  forth  out 
of  the  water,  and  pass  out  of  sight  amongst  the 
flowers  of  the  eyot,  she  arose  and  went  her  ways 
home. 

Birdalone  looked  through  the  willow-boughs, 
and  saw  her  turn  away  ;  then  she  fared  to  her  fish- 
ing with  a  smile,  and  soon  had  plenteous  catch  from 
under  the  willow-boughs.  Then,  whereas  the  day 
was  very  calm  and  fair,  and  the  dame  had  given 
her  holiday,  she  wandered  about  the  eyot,  and  most 
in  a  little  wood  of  berry-trees,  as  quicken  and 
white-beam  and  dog-wood,  and  sported  with  the 


OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   CAPTIVITY  ^2 

birds,  who  feared  her  not,  but  came  and  sat  on  her 
shoulders,  and  crept  about  her  feet.  She  went 
also  and  stood  a  while  on  the  southern  shore,  and 
looked  on  the  wide  water  dim  in  the  offing  under 
the  hot-weather  haze,  and  longed  to  be  gone  be- 
yond it.  Then  she  turned  away,  and  to  the  other 
shore,  and  gat  her  fish  and  strung  them  on  the 
string,  and  made  them  fast  to  her  middle,  and  so 
took  the  water  back  again  to  the  yellow  strand, 
where  now  was  no  one  awaiting  her.  But  before 
she  did  on  her  garments,  she  looked  on  them,  and 
saw  that  they  lay  not  as  she  had  left  them,  whereby 
she  knew  well  that  the  witch-wife  had  handled 
them. 

Amidst  all  this  the  day  was  wearing  to  an  end, 
and  again  she  saw  the  smoke  of  the  cooking-fire 
going  up  into  the  air  from  the  chimney  of  the 
house  ;  and  she  smiled  ruefully,  thinking  that  the 
witch  might  yet  find  an  occasion  for  ransacking 
her  raiment.  But  she  plucked  up  heart,  and  came 
home  with  her  catch,  and  the  dame  met  her  with 
a  glum  face,  and  neither  praised  her  nor  blamed 
her,  but  took  the  fish  silently.  Such  ending  had 
that  day. 


CHAPTER    XV.      BIRDALONE    WEAR- 
ETH  HER  SERPENT-RING. 

AFTER  this  she  went  once  and  again  fishing 
on  to  Green  Eyot  by  the  bidding  of  the 
dame,  who  went  not  again  to  the  shore 
with  her.  These  times  she  had  half  a  mind  to  go 
see  the  Sending  Boat,  but  durst  not,  lest  the  thing 
itself  might  have  life  enough  to  tell  of  her. 

And  now  was  come  the  time  of  wheat-harvest, 
and  Birdalone  must  wear  her  days  swinking  in  the 
acre-land,  clad  but  in  smock  and  shoes ;  and  the 
toil  was  hard,  and  browned  her  skin  and  hardened 
her  hands,  but  it  irked  her  not,  for  the  witch  let 
her  work  all  alone,  and  it  was  holiday  unto  the 
maiden  if  her  mistress  were  not  anigh,  despite  those 
words  which  had  somewhat  touched  her  heart  that 
other  day. 

But  when  wheat-getting  was  done,  there  was 
again  rest  for  her  body,  and  swimming  withal  and 
fishing  from  the  eyot  by  the  witch's  leave.  And 
again  by  her  own  leave  she  went  to  seek  Habun- 
dia  in  the  wood,  and  spent  a  happy  hour  with  her, 
and  came  back  with  a  fawn  which  she  had  shot, 
and  so  but  barely  saved  her  skin  from  the  twig- 
shower.  Then  yet  again  she  went  into  the  wood 
on  the  witch's  errand  as  well  as  her  own,  and  was 
paid  by  her  friend's  sweet  converse,  and  by  nought 
else  save  the  grudging  girding  of  her  mistress. 

But  on  a  night  when  September  was  well  in,  and 
the  sky  was  moonless  and  overcast,  somewhat  be- 
fore midnight  the  dame  came  and  hung  over  Bird- 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   CAPTIVITY  ^S 

alone  as  she  lay  abed,  and  watched  to  see  if  she 
waked ;  forsooth  the  witch's  coming  had  waked 
her  ;  but  even  so  she  was  wary,  and  lay  still,  nor 
changed  her  breathing.  So  the  witch  turned 
away,  but  even  therewith  Birdalone  made  a  shift 
to  get  a  glimpse  of  her,  and  this  she  saw  thereby, 
that  the  semblance  of  her  was  changed,  and  that 
she  bore  the  self-same  skin  wherewith  she  had 
come  to  Utterhay,  and  which  she  had  worn  twice 
or  thrice  afterwards  when  she  had  an  errand  thither. 
The  witch  now  glided  swiftly  to  the  door,  and 
out  into  the  night.  Birdalone  lay  still  a  little,  lest 
she  should  fall  into  a  trap,  and  then  arose  very 
quietly  and  did  on  her  smock,  which  lay  ever 
under  her  pillow  with  the  ring  sewn  thereto  again, 
and  so  went  out  adoors  also,  and  deemed  she  saw 
the  witch  some  way  on  ahead ;  but  it  was  noth- 
ing for  her  light  feet  to  overtake  her.  So  she 
stayed  to  take  the  ring  from  her  smock,  and  set 
it  on  her  finger  ;  then  in  a  low  voice  she  said : 

To  left  and  right. 
Before,  behind. 
Of  me  be  sight 
As  of  the  wind  ! 

Then  boldly  she  sped  on,  and  was  soon  close  on 
the  heels  of  the  witch,  who  made  her  way  to  the 
edge  of  the  lake,  and  then  turned  east,  and  went 
even  as  Birdalone  had  gone  when  she  came  across 
the  Sending  Boat. 

So  fared  the  witch-wife  straight  to  the  creek-side, 
and  Birdalone  must  needs  stick  close  to  her,  or 


^6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

she  had  known  nought,  so  black  was  the  night 
amongst  the  alder-boughs.  But  the  witch-wife 
fumbled  about  a  while  when  she  was  stayed  by  the 
creek,  and  presently  drew  somewhat  from  under 
her  cloak,  and  the  maiden  saw  that  she  was  about 
striking  flint  upon  steel,  and  quaked  somewhat, 
lest  her  charm  had  played  her  false.  Presently 
the  tinder  quickened,  and  the  dame  had  lighted  a 
lantern,  which  she  held  up,  peering  all  about ;  and 
full  she  looked  on  the  place  whereas  was  Birdalone, 
and  made  no  show  of  seeing  her,  though  well-nigh 
the  maiden  looked  for  it  to  see  her  drop  the  lan- 
tern and  spring  on  her. 

Now  the  witch,  holding  the  lantern  aloft,  steps 
over  the  gunwale  of  the  boat,  and  sits  down  on  the 
thwart ;  and  it  was  a  near  thing  but  that  Birdalone 
followed  her  into  the  boat,  but  she  feared  the  get- 
ting forth  again,  so  she  but  hung  over  it  as  close 
as  she  might.  Then  she  saw  the  witch  draw  out 
of  her  girdle  that  sharp  little  knife  which  Birdalone 
had  seen  raised  against  her  own  throat ;  and  then 
the  witch  bared  her  arm,  and  pricked  it  till  the 
blood  sprang  from  that  barren  white  skin  ;  thereat 
she  stood  up,  and  went  to  the  bows  of  the  craft 
and  hung  over  them,  and  drew  her  arm  to  and  fro 
over  the  stem  to  bloody  it ;  and  went  thereafter 
to  the  stern,  and  took  blood  into  her  right  hand 
and  passed  it  over  the  place  of  the  steerage  (for 
there  was  no  rudder),  and  came  back  and  sat  down 
on  the  thwart  again ;  and,  so  far  as  Birdalone 
might  see,  busied  herself  in  staunching  the  little 
wound  on  her  arm.     Then  deemed  Birdalone  that 


OF   THE   HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  57 

she  knew  what  manner  of  paint  was  that  which  had 
made  the  rusty  smears  which  she  had  seen  on  the 
boat  by  daylight. 

But  now  as  the  witch  sat  there,  a  harsh  voice 
began  to  stir  in  her  throat,  and  then  words  came 
out  of  her,  and  she  sang  in  a  crow's  croak. : 

The  red  raven-wine  now 

Hast  thou  drunk,  stern  and  bow  ; 

Then  wake  and  awake 

And  the  wonted  way  take! 

The  way  of  the  Wender  forth  over  the  flood. 

For  the  will  of  the  Sender  is  blent  with  the  blood. 

Therewithal  began  the  boat  to  stir,  and  anon 
it  glided  forth  out  of  the  creek  into  the  waters  of 
the  lake,  and  the  light  of  the  lantern  died,  and  it 
was  but  a  minute  ere  Birdalone  lost  all  sight  of  it. 
She  abode  a  little  longer,  lest  perchance  boat  and 
witch  might  come  back  on  her  hands,  and  then 
turned  and  went  swiftly  back  again.  She  would 
have  drawn  otf  her  ring  straightway,  but  the 
thought  came  on  her,  that  she  had  seen  the  witch 
depart  in  her  second  semblance  ;  how  if  she  were 
abiding  her  at  home  in  her  wonted  skin  ?  So  she 
came  to  the  house  even  as  she  was,  and  opened 
the  door,  and  looked  in,  quaking  ;  but  there  was 
no  image  of  a  child  of  Adam  therein,  and  no  liv- 
ing thing,  save  the  cat  drowsing  before  the  fire  ; 
wherefore  Birdalone  took  the  ring  from  her  finger 
and  went  to  the  hearth,  and  stirred  up  the  cat  with 
her  foot  till  he  arose  and  fell  to  rubbing  himself 
against  her  legs,  and  she  was  fain  of  him. 


58     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Thereafter  she  made  her  ring  fast  to  her  smock 
again,  and  set  the  smock  under  her  pillow  as  her 
wont  was,  and  betook  herself  to  bed,  and  fell  asleep 
sweetly,  leaving  all  troublous  thoughts  for  the  mor- 
row ;  and  that  the  more  as  she  was  free  of  the 
witch-wife  for  that  night  at  least. 


CHAPTER  XVI.  BIRDALONE  MEET- 
ETH  HABUNDIA  AGAIN;  AND  LEARN- 
ETH  HER  FIRST  WISDOM  OF  HER. 

WHEN  morning  was,  Birdalone  arose,  and 
longed  sore  to  go  into  the  wood  to  seek 
Habundia  again,  but  durst  not,  lest  the 
witch-wife  should  come  to  hand  again  earlier  than 
might  be  looked  for.  So  she  abode  quiet  and  did 
what  was  toward  near  about  the  house.  All  that 
day  the  witch  came  not  back,  nor  the  next  ;  but 
the  morrow  thereafter,  when  Birdalone  arose,  she 
found  the  wonted  aspect  of  her  mistress  in  the 
wonted  place,  who,  when  she  saw  the  maiden, 
greeted  her,  and  was  somewhat  blithe  with  her ; 
and  Birdalone  would  have  asked  her  leave  to  go 
to  the  wood,  but  she  trusted  little  in  her  unwonted 
soft  mood ;  which  yet  lasted  so  long  that  on  the 
third  day  she  herself  bade  Birdalone  go  take  her 
pleasure  in  the  wood,  and  bear  back  with  her  what 
of  venison  she  might. 

Forthwith  went  Birdalone  as  glad  as  might  be, 
and  met  her  friend  at  the  Oak  of  Tryst,  and  told 
her  closely  how  all  had  betid  ;  and  Habundia  said  : 
Here,  then,  thou  hast  learned  how  to  sail  the  lake. 
But  hast  thou  learned  enough  to  try  the  adventure 
and  not  to  fail  ?  Even  so  I  deem^  said  Birdalone  ; 
but  this  I  would  say,  that  meseemeth  it  better  that 
I  follow  the  witch  down  to  the  boat  one  more  time 
at  least ;  for  this  first  time  it  was  dark  ;  and  more- 
over shall  I  not  be  surer  of  the  spell  if  I  hear  it 
said  oftener,  lest  it  be  not  ever  the  same  words  ^ 


6o     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

What  sayest  thou  ?  She  said :  Thou  art  right 
herein,  and,  since  the  adventure  may  not  be  tried 
till  next  June  is  at  hand,  there  is  time  enough  and 
to  spare.  And  now  for  this  hour  that  is  we  need 
talk  no  more  of  it.  Only,  my  sweet,  I  beseech  thee 
be  wary  ;  and  above  all  suffer  not  the  witch-wife 
to  set  eye  or  hand  on  the  ring.  Truly  mine  heart 
oft  aches  sorely  for  thy  peril ;  for  therein  the  image 
of  thee  abideth  rather  as  of  my  daughter  than  my 
friend.  Yea,  now  thou  laughest,  but  kindly,  so 
that  the  sound  of  thy  laughter  is  as  sweet  music. 
But  know  that  though  thou  art  but  a  young  maiden, 
and  I  in  all  wise  like  unto  thee  of  aspect,  yet  have 
I  dwelt  many  and  many  a  year  upon  the  earth,  and 
much  wisdom  have  learned.     Trowest  thou  me  ? 

Yea,  yea,  said  Birdalone,  with  all  my  heart. 
Then  she  hung  her  head  a  while  and  kept  silence, 
and  thereafter  looked  up  and  spake  :  I  would  ask 
thee  a  thing  and  crave  somewhat  of  thee,  as  if  thou 
wert  verily  my  mother ;  wilt  thou  grant  it  me  ? 
Yea,  surely,  child,  said  Habundia.  Said  Birda- 
lone :  This  it  is  then,  that  thou  wilt  learn  me  of  thy 
wisdom.  Habundia  smiled  full  kindly  on  her,  and 
said  :  This  of  all  things  I  would  have  had  thee 
ask  ;  and  this  day  and  now  shall  we  begin  to  open 
the  book  of  the  earth  before  thee.  For  therein  is 
mine  heritage  and  my  dominion.  Sit  by  me,  child, 
and  hearken  ! 

So  the  maiden  sat  down  by  her  likeness  under 
the  oak,  and  began  to  learn  her  lesson.  Forsooth 
forgotten  is  the  wisdom,  though  the  tale  of  its  learn- 
ing abideth,  wherefore  nought  may  we  tell  thereof. 


OF    THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  6 1 

When  it  was  done,  Birdalone  kissed  her  wood- 
mother  and  said  :  This  is  now  the  best  day  of  my 
life,  this  and  the  day  when  first  I  saw  thee.  I  will 
come  hither  now  many  times  before  the  day  of  my 
departure.  Yea,  but,  sweet  child,  said  Habundia, 
beware  of  the  witch  and  her  cruelty  ;  I  fear  me  she 
shall  yet  be  grim  toward  thee.  So  will  I  be  wary, 
said  Birdalone,  but  I  will  venture  some  little  peril 
of  pain  but  if  thou  forbid  me,  mother.  And  1  pray 
thee  by  thy  love  to  forbid  me  not.  And  this  I  pray 
thee  the  more,  because  after  one  of  these  grim  times 
then  mostly  doth  she  meddle  the  less  with  me  for  a 
while,  wherefore  I  shall  be  the  freer  to  come  hither. 
Habundia  kissed  her  and  embraced  her,  and  said: 
Valiant  art  thou  for  a  young  maiden,  my  child,  and 
I  would  not  refrain  thee  more  than  a  father  would 
refrain  his  young  son  from  the  strokes  of  the  tilt- 
yard.  But  I  pray  thee  to  forget  not  my  love,  and 
my  sorrow  for  thy  grief 

Therewith  they  sundered,  and  it  was  drawing 
toward  evening.  Birdalone  sought  catch,  and 
brought  home  venison  to  the  dame,  who  was  yet 
blithe  with  her,  and  spake  that  evening  as  she  eyed 
her:  I  cannot  tell  how  it  is,  but  thou  seemest 
changed  unto  me,  and  lookest  more  towards  thy 
womanhood  than  even  yesterday.  I  mean  the  face 
of  thee,  for  wert  thou  stripped,  lean  enough  I 
should  see  thee,  doubtless.  But  now  look  to  it,  I 
beseech  thee,  to  be  both  deft  and  obedient,  so  that 
I  may  be  as  kind  to  thee  as  I  would  be,  and  kinder 
than  I  have  been  heretofore. 


CHAPTER    XVII.     THE    PASSING    OF 
THE   YEAR   INTO   WINTER. 

WORE  the  days  now,  till  on  a  night  of  Oc- 
tober, toward  the  end  thereof,  the  witch 
went  a-night-tide  to  the  Sending  Boat, 
and  Birdalone  followed  her  as  erst.  This  time  the 
night  was  wild  and  windy,  but  the  moon  was  high 
aloft  and  big,  and  all  cloud  save  a  few  flecks  was 
blown  from  off  the  heavens  ;  so  that  the  night  was 
as  light  as  could  be;  and  even  at  the  tree-hung 
creek  it  was  easy  to  see  all  that  was  done.  And  so 
it  was  that  the  witch  did  and  spake  in  all  wise  as 
she  did  before. 

Another  time,  when  November  was  well-nigh 
out,  the  dame  arose  for  her  lake-faring ;  but  this 
night  the  snow  lay  deep  betwixt  house  and  water, 
and  Birdalone  thought  that  it  would  scarce  do  to 
follow.  Forsooth  she  knew  not  whether  her  feet 
would  the  less  leave  their  print  in  the  snow  because 
they  were  not  to  be  seen.  When  she  asked  Ha- 
bundia  thereof,  she  laughed  and  said  :  Once  more 
thou  hast  been  wise,  my  child,  for  though  it  had 
been  no  harder  to  put  this  might  into  thy  ring,  that 
whoso  wore  it  should  not  touch  the  ground,  yet  it 
hath  not  been  done. 

It  must  be  told,  that  in  this  while  Birdalone 
went  oft  to  the  Trysting  Tree,  and  called  on  her 
mother  (as  now  she  called  her)  to  come  to  her,  and 
ever  more  and  more  of  wisdom  she  won  thereby. 
Though  the  witch  was  oft  surly  with  her,  and  spared 
not  her  girding,  yet,  the  needful  work  done,  she 


OF    THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  6^ 

meddled  little  with  her.  But  on  a  day  she  straightly 
banned  her  the  wood,  and  Birdalone  went  notwith- 
standing, and  when  she  was  there  with  the  wood- 
mother  nought  she  told  her  thereof,  but  was  blithe 
and  merry  beyond  her  wont.  She  came  back  home 
thereafter  empty  handed,  and  stepped  into  the 
chamber  proudly  and  with  bright  eyes  and  flushed 
cheeks,  though  she  looked  for  nought  save  chas- 
tisement ;  yea,  it  might  be  even  the  skin-changing. 
Forsooth  the  witch  was  sitting  crouched  in  her  chair 
with  her  hands  on  the  elbows  and  her  head  thrust 
forward,  like  a  wild  beast  at  point  to  spring;  but 
when  her  eye  fell  on  Birdalone,  she  faltered  and 
drew  back  into  herself  again,  and  muttered  some- 
what unheard ;  but  to  Birdalone  spake  nought  of 
good  or  bad. 

Now  was  winter-tide  upon  them,  when  there 
was  nought  to  do  in  field  and  acre,  and  but  a  little 
in  the  byre.  In  years  bygone,  and  even  in  the  last 
one,  the  witch  had  not  spared  Birdalone  toil  any 
the  more,  but  had  made  errands  for  her  amidst  the 
snow  and  biting  winds,  or  over  the  lake  when  it 
was  laid  with  ice.  But  now  she  bade  her  to  nought 
save  what  she  had  a  will  to  ;  whereby  she  lost  but 
little,  whereas  Birdalone  was  well  willing  to  strive 
against  wind  and  weather  and  the  roughness  of 
the  winter  earth,  and  overcome  if  she  might,  so 
that  all  were  well  done  that  had  to  be  done  about 
the  stead. 

Still  did  the  witch  give  her  hard  words  and  rail 
at  her  for  the  most  part,  but  from  the  teeth  out- 
ward only,  and  because  she  was  wont  thereto.     In- 


64     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

wardly  indeed  she  began  to  fear  Birdalone,  and 
deemed  that  she  would  one  day  have  the  mastery  ; 
and  this  led  her  into  fierce  and  restless  moods ;  so 
that  she  would  sit  staring  at  the  maiden's  beauty 
handling  her  knife  withal,  and  scarce  able  to  for- 
bear her.  And  in  such  a  mood  she  once  made 
occasion  to  chastise  her  as  her  wont  had  been  erst, 
and  looked  to  see  Birdalone  rebel  against  her;  but 
it  fell  out  otherwise,  for  Birdalone  submitted  her- 
self to  her  meekly  and  with  a  cheerful  counte- 
nance. And  this  also  was  a  terror  to  the  witch, 
who  deemed,  as  indeed  it  was,  that  the  purpose 
was  growing  in  her  thrall.  So  from  that  time  she 
meddled  with  her  no  more.  All  this  while,  as  may 
be  thought,  Birdalone  went  yet  oftener  to  the  Oak 
of  Tryst,  despite  frost  and  snow  and  wind,  and 
gat  much  lore  of  her  wood-mother,  and  learned 
wisdom  abundantly.     And  her  days  were  happy. 


CHAPTER    XVIII.      OF    SPRING-TIDE 
AND    THE    MIND    OF    BIRDALONE. 

NOW  was  the  winter  gone  and  the  spring-tide 
come  again,  and  with  the  blossoming  of  the 
earth  blossomed  Birdalone  also.  Nought 
sweeter  of  flesh  might  she  be  than  erst,  but  there 
was  now  a  new  majesty  grown  into  her  beauty  ; 
her  limbs  were  rounded,  her  body  fulfilled,  her 
skin  sleeked  and  whitened ;  and  if  any  mother's 
son  had  beheld  her  feet  as  they  trod  the  meadow 
besprinkled  with  saffron  and  daffodil,  ill  had  it 
gone  with  him  were  he  gainsaid  the  kisses  of  them, 
thoufh  for  the  kissing  had  he  fared  the  worse 
belike. 

That  spring-tide,  amidst  of  April,  she  followed 
the  witch-wife  down  to  the  Sending  Boat  for  the 
third  time  ;  and  there  went  everything  as  erst,  and 
she  deemed  now  that  the  lesson  was  well  learned, 
and  that  she  was  well-nigh  as  wise  as  the  witch 
herself  therein. 

But  the  day  after  she  went  about  somewhat  pen- 
sive, as  though  a  troublous  thought  were  on  her ; 
and  when,  three  days  thereafter,  she  met  the  wood- 
mother,  she  spake  to  her  even  as  they  parted,  and 
said  :  Mother,  much  wisdom  hast  thou  learned  me, 
and  now  this  at  the  last  withal,  that  hitherto  there 
has  been  shame  in  my  life ;  and  now  fain  were  I 
to  be  done  with  it.  Fair  child,  said  Habundia, 
little  is  the  shame  though  this  woman  hath  had 
the  upper  hand  of  thee  and  hath  used  thee  cruelly : 
how  mightest  thou,  a  child,  strive  with  her  ?    But 

5 


66     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

now  I  see  and  know  that  there  is  an  end  of  that ; 
that  she  feareth  thee  now,  and  will  never  again 
raise  a  hand  against  thee  save  thou  fall  wholly  into 
her  power ;  as  thou  shalt  not,  my  child.  Be  com- 
forted then  for  what  is  gone  by  !  Nay,  mother, 
said  Birdalone,  it  is  not  that  which  troubleth  me ; 
for,  as  thou  sayest,  what  else  might  I  do  ?  But 
thy  wisdom  which  thou  hast  set  in  my  heart  hath 
learned  me  that  for  these  last  months  I  have  been 
meeting  guile  with  guile  and  lies  with  lies.  And 
now  will  I  do  so  no  more,  lest  I  become  a  guileful 
woman,  with  nought  good  in  me  save  the  fairness 
of  my  body.  Wherefore  hearken,  sweet  mother  ! 
What  is  done,  is  done  ;  but  when  it  cometh  to  the 
day,  which  is  speedily  drawing  nigh,  that  I  must 
part  from  thee,  it  may  be  for  a  long  while,  then 
will  I  not  fare  to  the  Sending  Boat  by  night  and 
cloud  and  with  hidden  head,  but  will  walk  thither 
in  broad  day,  and  let  that  befall  which  must  befall. 

Changed  then  Habundia's  face  and  became  hag- 
gard and  woeful,  and  she  cried  out :  O  if  I  could 
but  weep,  as  ye  children  of  Adam  !  O  my  grief 
and  sorrow !  Child,  child !  then  will  betide  that 
falling  into  her  hands  which  I  spake  of  e'en  now ; 
and  then  shall  this  wretch,  this  servant  of  evil,  as- 
suredly slay  thee  there  and  then,  or  will  keep  thee 
to  torment  thee  till  thy  life  be  but  a  slow  death. 
Nay,  nay,  do  as  I  should  do,  and  fare  with  hidden 
head,  and  my  ring  on  thy  finger.  Or  else,  O  child, 
how  wilt  thou  hurt  me  ! 

Birdalone  wept ;  but  presently  she  fell  to  caress- 
ing the  mother's  hand,  and  said  :  This  is  thy  doing. 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  67 

wherein  thou  hast  made  me  wise.  Yet  fear  not: 
for  I  deem  that  the  witch-wife  will  not  slay  me, 
whereas  she  looketh  to  have  some  gain  of  me; 
moreover,  in  the  evil  of  her  heart  is  mingled  some 
love  toward  me,  whereof,  as  erst  I  told  thee,  I  have 
a  morsel  of  compassion.  Mother,  she  will  not  slay 
me  ;  and  I  say  that  she  shall  not  torment  me,  for  I 
will  compel  her  to  slay  me  else.  It  is  my  mind 
that  she  will  let  me  go.  Said  the  mother :  Yea,  may- 
happen,  yet  but  as  a  bird  with  a  string  to  its  leg. 
If  it  be  so,  said  Birdalone,  then  let  my  luck  prevail 
over  her  guile ;  as  well  it  may  be,  since  I  have 
known  thee,  O  wise  mother ! 

The  wood-wife  hung  her  head  and  spake  nought 
for  a  while ;  then  she  said :  I  see  that  thou  wilt  have 
it  so,  and  that  there  is  something  in  thine  heart 
which  we,  who  are  not  children  of  Adam,  may  not 
understand;  yet  once  wert  thou  more  like  unto  us. 
Now  all  I  may  say  is,  that  thou  must  rule  in  this 
matter,  and  that  I  am  sad. 

Then  she  looked  down  again  and  presently  raised 
a  brighter  face,  and  said:  Belike  all  shall  be  better 
than  I  thought.  Then  she  kissed  Birdalone  and 
they  parted  for  that  time. 


CHAPTER  XIX.  THEY  BID  FARE- 
WELL, BIRDALONE  AND  THE  WOOD- 
MOTHER. 

NOW  April  was  gone,  and  May  was  come 
with  the  thorn  a-blossoming,  and  there 
was  Birdalone  waxing  still  in  loveliness. 
And  now  the  witch  had  left  all  girding  at  her  even, 
and  spake  to  her  but  little,  save  when  she  needs 
must.  But  to  Birdalone  it  seemed  that  she  watched 
her  exceeding  closely. 

Birdalone  went  oft  to  the  wood,  and  learned  yet 
more  of  lore :  but  of  the  matter  of  the  Departure, 
how  it  was  to  be  gone  about  they  spake  no  more, 
and  great  was  the  love  betwixt  them. 

At  last  when  May  was  worn  nigh  to  June  came 
Birdalone  to  the  Oak  of  Tryst,  and  found  the  wood- 
mother  there  ;  and  when  they  had  talked  a  while, 
but  ever  from  the  teeth  out,  spake  H[abundia  : 
Though  thou  be  now  the  wiser  of  us  two  maybe, 
yet  have  I  wisdom  to  wot  that  this  is  the  hour  of 
our  sundering,  and  that  to-morrow  thou  wilt  try 
the  adventure  of  the  Sending  Boat:  is  it  not  so? 
Yea,  mother,  said  Birdalone  ;  I  bid  thee  farewell 
now :  woe  is  me  therefor !  Said  Habundia :  And 
thou  wilt  deliver  thyself  into  the  hands  of  the  witch, 
wilt  thou,  as  thou  saidst  that  other  day  ?  Quoth 
Birdalone :  Is  it  not  wisdom,  dear  mother,  if  I  trust 
in  my  goodhap  ?  Alas,  said  the  mother,  it  may  be 
so  when  all  is  said.  But  O  my  sad  heart !  and  how 
1  fear  for  thee ! 


OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   CAPTIVITY  6<^ 

My  mother,  my  mother  !  said  Birdalone,  that  I 
should  make  the  days  grievous  unto  thee !  and  thou 
who  hast  made  my  days  so  joyous  !  But  now  canst 
thou  not  say  of  thy  wisdom  that  we  shall  meet 
again  ? 

The  wood-woman  sat  down,  and  let  her  head 
fall  over  her  knees,  and  was  silent  a  long  while; 
then  she  rose  up  and  stood  before  Birdalone,  and 
said :  Yea,  we  shall  meet  again,  howsoever  it  may  be. 
Let  us  depart  with  that  sweet  word  in  the  air  be- 
tween us.  Yet  first  thou  shalt  give  me  a  tress  of 
thine  hair,  as  I  did  to  thee  when  first  we  met ;  for 
by  means  of  it  may  I  know  to-morrow  how  thou 
hast  sped. 

Even  so  did  Birdalone,  and  this  was  the  end  of 
their  talk,  save  broken  words  of  lamentation  as  they 
said  farewell.  And  therewith  for  that  while  they 
sundered. 


CHAPTER  XX.     OF  BIRDALONE  AND 
THE  SENDING    BOAT. 

BIRDALONE  woke  up  in  the  morning,  and 
arose  and  clad  herself,  and  she  saw  not  the 
witch-wife  in  the  chamber,  though  her  bed 
looked  as  if  it  had  been  slept  in.  Birdalone  ac- 
counted little  thereof,  whereas  the  dame  would  oft 
go  on  one  errand  or  another  much  betimes  in  the 
morning.  Yet  was  she  somewhat  glad,  for  she  was 
nowise  wishful  for  a  wrangle  with  her.  Withal, 
despite  her  valiancy,  as  may  well  be  thought,  she 
was  all  a-flutter  with  hopes  and  fears,  and  must 
needs  refrain  her  body  from  overmuch  quaking  and 
restlessness  if  she  might. 

Now  she  mingled  the  tress  of  the  wood-mother's 
hair  with  her  own  hair,  but  deemed  it  nought  peril- 
ous to  leave  the  ring  yet  sewn  to  her  smock  :  she 
set  some  deal  of  bread  and  flesh  in  her  scrip,  lest 
her  voyage  should  be  long,  and  then  all  simply 
stepped  over  the  threshold  of  the  House  of  her 
Captivity. 

She  went  straight  to  the  strand  aforesaid,  seeing 
nought  of  the  witch-wife  by  the  way  ;  and  when  she 
came  there,  was  about  to  turn  straightway  to  her 
left  hand  down  to  the  creek,  when  it  came  into  her 
mind  that  she  would  first  swim  over  to  Green  Eyot 
for  this  last  of  times.  For  the  eyot  indeed  she 
loved,  and  deemed  it  her  own,  since  never  had  her 
evil  dream,  the  witch,  set  foot  thereon.  Moreover, 
she  said  to  herself  that  the  cool  lake  would  allay 
the  fever  of  her  blood,  and  make  her  flesh  firmer 


OF    THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  71 

and  less  timorous  for  the  adventure.  And  again, 
that  if  the  witch  should  see  her  from  afar,  as  she 
could  scarce  fail  to  do,  she  would  deem  the  maiden 
was  about  her  wonted  morning  swimming,  and 
would  be  the  less  like  to  spy  on  her. 

So  now,  when  she  had  let  her  garments  slip  from 
off  her  on  to  the  sand  close  to  the  water's  edge, 
she  stood  a  while,  with  her  feet  scarce  covered  by 
the  little  ripple  of  the  bight,  to  be  a  token  of  safety 
to  her  mistress.  To  say  sooth,  now  it  was  come 
so  nigh  to  the  deed,  she  shrank  aback  a  little,  and 
was  fain  to  dally  with  the  time,  and,  if  it  might  be, 
thrust  something  of  no  import  betwixt  her  and  the 
terror  of  the  last  moment. 

Now  she  took  the  water,  and  rowed  strongly 
with  her  lovely  limbs  till  she  came  to  the  eyot,  and 
there  she  went  aland,  and  visited  every  place  which 
had  been  kind  to  her ;  and  kissed  the  trees  and 
flowers  that  had  solaced  her,  and  once  more  drew 
the  birds  and  rabbits  to  sport  with  her  ;  till  sud- 
denly it  came  into  her  head  that  the  time  was  wear- 
ing overfast.  Then  she  ran  down  to  the  water  and 
plunged  in,  and  swam  over  to  the  strand  as  fast  as 
she  might,  and  came  aland  there,  thinking  of  noth- 
ing less  than  what  had  befallen. 

For  lo  !  when  she  looked  around  for  her  rai- 
ment and  her  scrip,  it  was  nowhere  to  be  seen ; 
straightway  then  it  came  into  her  mind,  as  in  one 
flash,  that  this  was  the  witch's  work  ;  that  she  had 
divined  this  deed  of  the  flight,  and  had  watched 
her,  and  taken  the  occasion  of  her  nakedness  and 
absence  that  she  might  draw  her  back  to  the  House 


72     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

of  Captivity.  And  this  the  more  as  the  precious 
ring  was  sewn  to  Birdalone's  smock,  and  the  witch 
would  have  found  it  there  when  she  handled  the 
raiment. 

Birdalone  wasted  no  time  in  seeking  for  the  lost ; 
she  looked  down  on  to  the  smooth  sand,  and  saw 
there  footprints  which  were  not  her  own,  and  all 
those  went  straight  back  home  to  the  house.  Then 
she  turned,  and  for  one  moment  of  time  looked  up 
toward  the  house,  and  saw  plainly  the  witch  come 
out  adoors,  and  the  sun  flashed  from  something 
bright  in  her  hand. 

Then  indeed  she  made  no  stay,  but  set  off  run- 
ning at  her  swiftest  along  the  water-side  toward  the 
creek  and  the  Sending  Boat.  As  is  aforesaid  she 
was  as  fleet-foot  as  a  deer,  so  but  in  a  little  space 
of  time  she  had  come  to  the  creek,  and  leapt  into 
the  boat,  panting  and  breathless.  She  turned  and 
looked  hastily  along  the  path  her  feet  had  just  worn, 
and  deemed  she  saw  a  fluttering  and  flashing  com- 
ing along  it,  but  some  way  ofi^;  yet  was  not  sure, 
for  her  eyes  were  dizzy  with  the  swiftness  of  her 
flight  and  the  hot  sun  and  the  hurry  of  her  heart. 
Then  she  looked  about  a  moment  confusedly,  for 
she  called  to  mind  that  in  her  nakedness  she  had 
neither  knife,  nor  scissors,  nor  bodkin  to  let  her 
blood  withal.  But  even  therewith  close  to  hand 
she  saw  hanging  down  a  stem  of  half-dead  briar- 
rose  with  big  thorns  upon  it;  she  hastily  tore 
oft'  a  length  thereof  and  scratched  her  left  arm 
till  the  blood  flowed,  and  stepped  lightly  first  ti? 
stem  and  then  to  stern,  and  besmeared  them  there- 


OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    CAPTIVITY  73 

with.     Then  she  sat  down  on  the  thwart  and  cried 
aloud : 

The  red  raven-wine  now 

Hast  thou  drunk,  stern  and  bow  ; 

Then  wake  and  awake 

And  the  wonted  way  take  ! 

The  way  of  the  Wender  forth  over  the  flood. 

For  the  will  of  the  Sender  is  blent  with  the  blood. 

Scarce  had  she  time  to  wonder  if  the  boat  would 
obey  her  spell  ere  it  began  to  stir  beneath  her, 
and  then  glided  out  into  the  lake  and  took  its  way 
over  the  summer  ripple,  going  betwixt  Green  Eyot 
and  the  mainland,  as  if  to  weather  the  western  ness 
of  the  eyot :  and  it  went  not  a  stonecast  from  the 
shore  of  the  said  mainland. 

Hither  to  meet  it  now  cometh  the  witch,  run- 
ning along  the  bank,  her  skirts  flying  wild  about 
her,  and  a  heavy  short-sword  gleaming  in  her  hand. 
Her  furious  running  she  stayed  over  against  the 
boat,  and  cried  out  in  a  voice  broken  for  lack  of 
breath  : 

Back  over  the  flood 

To  the  house  by  the  wood  ! 

Back  unto  thy  rest 

In  the  alder  nest ! 

For  the  blood  of  the  Sender  lies  warm  on  thy  bow. 

And  the  heart  of  the  Wender  is  weary  as  now. 

But  she  saw  that  the  Sending  Boat  heeded  her 
words  nothing,  whereas  it  was  not  her  blood  that 
had  awakened  it,  but  Birdalone's.  Then  cried  out 
the  witch  :  O  child,  child  !  say  the  spell  and  come 
back  to  me !  to  me,  who  have  reared  thee  and  loved 
thee  and  hoped  in  thee  !   O  come  back  ! 


74     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

But  how  should  Birdalone  heed  her  prayer  ?  She 
saw  the  sax ;  and  withal  had  her  heart  forgotten,  her 
flesh  might  well  remember.  She  sat  still,  nor  so 
much  as  turned  her  head  toward  the  witch-wife. 

Then  came  wild  yelling  words  from  the  witch's 
mouth,  and  she  cried :  Go  then,  naked  and  out- 
cast !  Go  then,  naked  fool !  and  come  back  hither 
after  thou  hast  been  under  the  hands  of  the  piti- 
less !  Ah,  it  had  been  better  for  thee  had  I  slain 
thee  !  And  therewith  she  whirled  the  sax  over  her 
head  and  cast  it  at  Birdalone.  But  now  had  the 
boat  turned  its  head  toward  the  ness  of  Green 
Eyot  and  was  swiftly  departing,  so  that  Birdalone 
but  half  heard  the  last  words  of  the  witch-wife,  and 
the  sax  fell  flashing  into  the  water  far  astern. 

There  the  witch  stood  tossing  her  arms  and 
screaming,  wordless  ;  but  no  more  of  her  saw  Bird- 
alone, for  the  boat  came  round  about  the  ness  of 
Green  Eyot,  and  there  lay  the  Great  Water  under 
the  summer  heavens  all  wide  and  landless  before 
her.     And  it  was  now  noon  of  day. 

Here  ends  the  First  Part  of  the  Water  of 
the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  Of  the 
House  of  Captivity.  And  now  begins  the 
Second  Part,  which  is  called  Of  the  Won- 
drous Isles. 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  SECOND  PART:  OF 
THE   WONDROUS   ISLES. 

CHAPTER  I.     THE  FIRST  ISLE. 

SO  glided  Birdalone  over  the  lake  and  was  come 
forth  from  the  House  of  Captivity  ;  it  might 
well  be  that  she  was  but  swimming  unto 
death ;  naked  as  she  was,  fireless,  foodless,  and  help- 
less, at  the  mercy  of  mere  sorcery.  Yet  she  called  to 
mind  the  word  of  the  wood-mother  that  they  should 
meet  again,  and  took  heart  thereby  ;  and  she  was 
glad  in  that  she  had  had  her  will,  and  shaken  off 
the  guile  and  thraldom  of  the  witch.  Much  she 
thought  of  the  wood-mother,  and  loved  her,  and 
wondered  had  she  yet  sought  into  and  seen  her 
welfare  by  the  burning  of  a  hair  of  that  tress  of 
hers  ;  and  therewith  she  looked  on  that  tress  of 
Habundia's  hair  and  kissed  it. 

All  day  the  Sending  Boat  sped  on,  and  she  saw 
no  land  and  nought  to  tell  of.  It  was  but  wave 
and  sky  and  the  familiar  fowl  of  the  lake,  as  coot, 
and  mallard,  and  heron,  and  now  and  then  a  swift 
wood-dove  going  her  ways  from  shore  to  shore  ; 
two  gerfalcons  she  saw  also,  an  osprey,  and  a  great 
ern  on  his  errand  high  up  aloft. 

Birdalone  waked  in  her  loneliness  till  the  day  was 
spent,  and  somewhat  worn  ot  the  night ;  then  she 
fell  asleep  for  weariness  ;  but  so  it  was,  that  before 
dusk  she  had  deemed  that  a  blue  cloud  lay  before 
her  in  the  offing  which  moved  not. 


76     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

She  slept  the  short  night  through,  and  was  awak- 
ened by  the  boat  smiting  against  something,  and 
when  her  eyes  opened  she  saw  that  she  was  come 
aland  and  that  the  sun  was  just  risen.  She  stood 
up,  and  for  the  first  minute  wondered  where  she 
was,  and  she  beheld  her  nakedness  and  knew  not 
what  it  meant ;  then  she  loosened  her  hair,  and 
shook  its  abundance  all  about  her,  and  thereafter 
she  turned  her  eyes  on  this  new  land  and  saw  that 
it  was  fair  and  goodly.  The  flowery  grass  came 
down  to  the  very  water,  and  first  was  a  fair  meadow- 
land  besprinkled  with  big  ancient  trees ;  thence 
arose  slopes  of  vineyard,  and  orchard  and  garden  ; 
and,  looking  down  on  all,  was  a  great  White  House, 
carven  and  glorious.  A  little  air  of  wind  had  awak- 
ened with  the  sunrise,  and  bore  the  garden  sweet- 
ness down  to  her ;  and  warm  it  was  after  the  chill 
of  the  wide  water.  No  other  land  could  she  see 
when  she  looked  lakeward  thence. 

She  stepped  ashore,  and  stood  ankle-deep  in  the 
sweet  grass,  and  looked  about  her  for  a  while,  and 
saw  no  shape  of  man  astir.  She  was  yet  weary,  and 
stiff  with  abiding  so  long  amongst  the  hard  ribs  of 
the  boat,  so  she  laid  herself  down  on  the  grass,  and 
its  softness  solaced  her ;  and  presently  she  fell 
asleep  again. 


CHAPTER  II.     BIRDALONE  FALLETH 
IN  WITH  NEW  FRIENDS. 

WHEN  she  next  awoke,  the  sun  was  not 
yet  high,  and  the  morning  young,  yet  she 
stood  upon  her  feet  much  refreshed  by 
that  short  slumber.  She  turned  toward  the  hill  and 
the  gay  house,  and  saw  one  coming  over  the  meadow 
to  her,  a  woman  to  wit,  in  a  shining  golden  gown, 
and  as  she  drew  nigh  Birdalone  could  see  that  she 
was  young  and  fair,  tall,  v/hite-skinned  and  hazel- 
eyed,  with  long  red  hair  dancing  all  about  her  as  she 
tripped  lightly  and  merrily  over  the  greensward. 

Now  she  comes  up  to  Birdalone  with  wonder  in 
her  eyes,  and  greets  her  kindly,  and  asked  her  of 
her  name,  and  Birdalone  told  it  all  simply  ;  and  the 
new-comer  said  :  What  errand  hast  thou  hither, 
that  thou  art  come  thus  naked  and  alone  in  this 
ill-omened  ferry  ?  Birdalone  trembled  at  her  words, 
though  she  spake  kindly  to  her,  and  she  said  :  It 
is  a  long  story,  but  fate  drave  me  thereto,  and 
misery,  and  I  knew  not  whither  I  was  bound. 
But  is  there  no  welcome  for  me  in  this  lovely  land  ? 
I  lack  not  deftness  wholly  ;  and  I  will  be  a  servant 
of  servants,  and  ask  no  better  if  it  must  be  so. 
Said  the  new-comer  :  Unto  that  mayst  thou  come  , 
but  sore  will  be  thy  servitude.  I  fear  me  thy  wel- 
come here  may  be  but  evil.  Said  Birdalone  ;  Wilt 
thou  not  tell  me  how  so  ?  Quoth  that  lady  :  We 
know  thy  ferry  here,  that  it  is  the  craft  wherein 
Cometh  hither  now  and  again  the  sister  of  our  lady 
the  Queen,  into  whose  realm  thou  art  now  come, 


78     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  who  liveth  up  in  the  white  palace  yonder,  and 
whom  we  serve.  And  meseems  thou  wilt  not  have 
come  hither  by  her  leave,  or  thou  wouldst  be  in 
other  guise  than  this  ;  so  that  belike  thou  wilt  be  the 
runaway  of  thy  mistress.  Wherefore  I  fear  that 
thou  wilt  be  sent  back  to  thy  said  mistress  after  a 
while,  and  that  that  while  will  be  grievous  to  thee, 
body  and  soul. 

Birdalone's  heart  sank,  and  she  was  pale  and 
trembling  ;  but  she  said  :  O  dear  lady,  might  I  then 
depart  as  I  have  come  hither,  without  the  wotting 
of  this  Queen  !  after  thou  hast  given  me  a  morsel 
of  bread,  for  I  am  hungry.  Said  the  gold-clad  one, 
looking  on  her  pitifully  :  Nay,  maiden,  I  cannot 
choose  but  bring  thee  before  our  mis*"ress,  whereas 
most  like  she  hath  already  seen  thee  from  above 
there.  For  she  is  far-sighted  beyond  the  wont  of 
folk  who  be  more  manlike.  But  as  for  the  bread,  see 
thou  !  I  have  brought  amanchet  in  my  pouch,  and 
cheese  withal,  as  I  came  hurrying  ;  for  I  thought, 
she  will  be  hungry.  And  she  reached  the  victual 
out  to  her.  And  Birdalone  took  it  and  kissed  the 
golden  lady's  hands,  and  she  might  not  refrain  her 
tears,  but  wept  as  she  ate. 

Meanwhile  the  golden  lady  spake  unto  her  and 
said :  Nevertheless,  thou  poor  maiden,  somewhat 
may  be  done  for  thine  helping,  and  I  will  presently 
speak  to  my  sisters  thereon,  who  are,  both  of  them, 
wiser  than  I.  Sisters  by  blood  are  we  not,  but  by 
love  and  fellowship.  And  I  doubt  not  but  that  as 
we  go  up  into  the  house  we  shall  happen  upon  them 
in  the  garden.  But  now  I  look  upon  thee,  how  fair 
a  woman  art  thou  ! 


OF   THE   WONDROUS   ISLES  79 

Thou  art  kind  and  friendly,  said  Birdalone, 
smiling  amidst  of  her  tears,  might  I  know  by  what 
name  to  call  so  dear  a  woman  ?  Thou  shalt  call 
me  Aurea,  said  the  other ;  and  my  next  sister  is 
Viridis,  and  the  third,  Atra  ;  for  that  is  according 
to  the  hues  of  our  raiment,  and  other  names  we  have 
not  now.  And  lo  !  here  cometh  Viridis  over  the 
meadow. 

Birdalone  looked,  and  saw  a  woman  coming 
toward  them  clad  all  in  green,  with  a  rose-wreath  on 
her  head.  And  she  drew  nigh,  and  greeted  Bird- 
alone kindly,  and  she  also  was  a  very  beauteous 
woman  ;  not  great  of  body,  whereas  Aurea  was  tall 
and  big-made,  though  excellently  shapen.  Light 
brown  and  goodly  waved  of  hair  was  Viridis,  her 
eyes  brown,  and  rather  long  than  great ;  her  lips 
full  and  ruddy,  her  cheeks  soft  and  sweet  and 
smooth,  and  as  rosy-tinted  pearl ;  her  hands  small 
and  delicate  of  fashion  ;  her  whole  body  soft-shapen 
as  an  egg  ;  a  kind,  wheedling  look  her  face  bore. 

When  she  had  looked  a  while  on  Birdalone,  she 
kissed  her,  and  said  :  I  would  thou  wert  happier, 
for  thou  art  beauteous,  and  all  but  the  evil  must 
love  thee.  Therewith  she  drew  a  cate  from  her 
pouch,  and  said  :  Eat  somewhat,  for  thou  wilt  be 
hungry  ;  and  let  us  go  meet  our  other  sister,  who 
is  wiser  than  we. 

So  they  went,  all  three  of  them,  and  came  from 
off  the  meadow  on  to  the  garden-slopes,  and  at  the 
entry  thereof  was  come  Atra  to  meet  them ;  she 
was  clad  all  in  black,  a  tall,  slim  woman,  with  the 
grace  of  the  willow-bough  in  the  wind,  with  dark 


8o     THE  WATER  OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

plenteous  hair  and  grey  hawk-eyes;  her  skin  privet- 
white,  with  but  little  red  in  her  cheeks.  She  also 
greeted  Birdalone  kindly,  but  sadly  withal.  She 
gave  her  strawberries  to  eat  laid  on  a  big  kale- 
blade  ;  and  she  said  :  Sisters,  here  are  we  hidden 
by  the  trees,  and  cannot  be  seen  from  the  house ; 
therefore  v/e  may  sit  here  for  a  minute  or  two, 
while  we  talk  together  as  to  what  may  perchance 
be  done  for  the  helping  of  this  unhappy  maiden, 
who  is  so  fair  and  lovely,  and  hath  strayed  into  so 
ugly  a  trap.  Then  she  said  to  Birdalone :  Thou 
must  know,  poor  wanderer,  that  this  Queen,  our 
mistress,  who  is  sister  to  the  Witch  Under  the 
Wood,  is  big  and  strong,  well-made,  and  white- 
skinned,  so  that  she  deems  herself  a  Oueen  of  all 
beauty  :  keen-eyed  is  she  to  see  a  fly  where  others 
would  see  nought  smaller  than  a  coney  ;  fine-eared 
withal ;  wise  in  wizardry  ;  not  altogether  dull- 
witted,  though  she  be  proud,  and  crueller  than  the 
cruellest.  But  herein  she  faileth,  that  her  memory 
is  of  the  shortest  for  matters  of  the  passing  hour, 
albeit  she  remembers  her  spells  and  witch-songs 
over  well.  But  other  matters  will  scarce  abide  in 
her  head  for  four  and  twenty  hours.  Wherefore, 
sisters,  if  we  may  keep  this  maiden  out  of  her  sight 
(after  she  hath  seen  her  and  given  doom  upon  her) 
till  the  dead  of  to-morrow  night,  we  may  perchance 
do  some  good  for  her ;  and  it  is  in  my  mind  that 
then  she  may  do  good  for  us  also. 

Now  they  rejoiced  in  this  word  of  Atra  the  wise  ; 
and  Atra  prayed  Birdalone  to  tell  them  somewhat 
more  of  her  story  ;  and  she  told  them  much  ;  but, 


OF   THE   WONDROUS    ISLES  8 1 

whyso  it  were,  she  said  nought  concerning  the 
wood-wife,  whose  outward  semblance  was  the  same 
as  hers.  Then  they  pitied  her,  and  caressed  her ; 
but  Atra  said  :  We  must  tarry  here  no  more,  but 
go  straight  up  to  the  lady,  or  maybe  we  shall  lose 
all. 

So  they  went  their  ways  and  came  into  the  pleas- 
ance,  and  trod  the  sweet  greensward  betwixt  the 
garland  flovv'ers  and  the  beauteous  trees;  which  now 
indeed,  though  Birdalone  saw  them  all  clear  and 
over-clear,  were  become  nought  to  her.  Those 
three  also  spake  gently  to  her,  and  now  and  then 
asked  her  somewhat,  as  if  to  show  her  that  she  was 
one  of  themselves  ;  but  she  spake  not,  or  answered 
at  random,  and  to  say  sooth  scarce  heard  their 
words  :  forsooth  she  was  now  become  heart-sick, 
and  was  half  dead  for  fear  ;  and  her  nakedness, 
which  would  have  troubled  her  little  across  the 
water,  was  now  grown  a  shame  and  a  terror  unto 
her,  and  every  deal  of  her  body  quivered  with  the 
anguish  thereof. 


CHAPTER  HI.  BIRDALONE 
IS  BROUGHT  BEFORE  THE 
WITCH-WIFE'S  SISTER. 

SO  came  they  at  last  to  the  very  house,  and 
whereas  it  stood  high  on  the  bent,  a  great 
stair  or  perron  of  stone  went  up  to  it,  and 
was  of  much  majesty.  They  went  through  the 
porch,  which  was  pillared  and  lovely,  and  came 
into  a  great  hall  most  nobly  builded,  and  at  the 
other  end  thereof,  on  a  golden  throne  raised  upon 
a  dais,  sat  a  big  woman  clad  in  red  scarlet.  The 
three  damsels  led  Birdalone  to  some  four  paces  of 
the  great  lady,  and  then  stood  away  from  her,  and 
left  her  standing  there  alone,  the  scarlet-clad  wo- 
man before  her;  on  the  right  and  the  left  the  tall 
pillars  going  up  gleaming  toward  the  roof,  and 
about  her  feet  the  dark  polished  pavement,  with 
the  wallowing  of  strange  beasts  and  great  serpents 
and  dragons  all  done  on  the  coal-blue  ground. 

When  she  was  so  left  alone,  at  first  she  tottered, 
and  went  nigh  to  falling;  but  then  came  back, 
some  little  heart  to  her,  as  she  said  to  herself  that 
now  she  should  verily  die  once  for  all,  and  that  no 
long  while  would  be  the  passing  from  life  into 
death.  She  looked  up  and  beheld  the  lady-witch, 
that  she  was  somewhat  like  to  her  sister,  white- 
skinned  and  of  plenteous  golden-hair  as  was  she, 
but  younger  of  aspect,  and  nowise  so  ill-looked  as 
that  other  had  now  become  ;  for  somewhat  well- 
shapen  of  body  she  was  ;  but  her  face  forbidding  ; 
her  lower  lip  thrust  out,  her  cheeks  flaggy  and 


OF    THE   WONDROUS    ISLES  83 

drooping,  her  eyes  little  more  than  half  open ;  to 
be  short,  a  face  both  proud,  foolish,  and  cruel  ; 
terrible  indeed,  sitting  in  judgment  in  that  place 
on  a  shrinking  naked  creature. 

Now  she  spake  ;  and  if  there  were  no  majesty 
or  solemnity  in  the  voice,  there  was  ugly  glee  and 
malice  therein  ;  but  she  said  to  those  damsels  :  Is 
this  the  woman  that  my  keen  eyes  beheld  come 
aland  from  my  sister's  Sending  Boat  e'en  now  ? 
Aurea  knelt  on  one  knee,  and  said  :  Yea,  so  please 
you,  my  lady. 

Then  said  the  witch  :  Ho  thou  !  Wilt  thou  plead 
some  errand  hither  from  my  sister  ?  Dost  thou 
deem  me  so  witless  as  not  to  know  that  if  she  had 
sent  thee  hither  thou  wouldst  not  have  come  in 
this  plight  ?  Nay,  I  know  ;  thou  hast  stolen  thy- 
self from  her:  thou  art  a  thief,  and  as  a  thief  shalt 
thou  be  dealt  with. 

Spake  Birdalone  in  a  clear  voice  :  No  errand  do 
I  feign  from  thy  sister,  lady  :  when  I  could  bear 
my  life  there  no  longer,  I  took  occasion  to  flee 
from  her  :  this  is  all  the  tale.  Yet  once  and  again 
it  hath  been  in  my  mind  that  it  was  thy  sister  who 
stole  me  from  them  that  loved  me. 

Hah,  thrall  !  said  the  lady,  thou  art  bold  ;  thou 
art  over-bold,  thou  naked  wretch,  to  bandy  words 
with  me.  What  heed  I  thy  tale  now  thou  art 
under  my  hand  ?  Her  voice  was  cold  rather  than 
fierce,  yet  was  there  the  poison  of  malice  therein. 
But  Birdalone  spake  :  If  I  be  bold,  lady,  it  is  be- 
cause I  see  that  I  have  come  into  the  House  of 
Death.     The  dying  may  well  be  bold. 


84     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

The  House  of  Death !  cried  the  stupid  lady ; 
and  wilt  thou  call  my  noble  house  the  House  of 
Death  ?  Now  art  thou  no  longer  bold,  stripped 
thrall,  but  impudent. 

Scorn  rose  into  Birdalone's  heart  at  this  word, 
but  she  refrained  her,  and  spake :  I  meant  that  I 
have  stirred  the  wrath  in  thee,  and  that  thou  wilt 
slay  me  therefor ;  and  that  it  availeth  not  to  crave 
mercy  of  thee. 

Laughed  the  lady  :  Thou  art  a  fool,  thrall,  said 
she ;  if  a  sparrow  fled  hither  from  my  sister,  I 
should  not  wring  its  neck,  but  keep  it  for  her.  So 
shall  I  do  with  thee.  I  shall  not  slay  thee,  and  so 
destroy  my  sister's  chattel ;  nor  shall  I  spoil  thee, 
and  spoil  her  possession.  I  shall  send  thee  back 
unto  her,  the  stolen  thrall  in  the  stolen  boat,  when 
I  have  learned  thee  a  lesson  here.  Forsooth  it 
was  for  that  cause  meseemeth  that  she  let  thee  slip 
through  her  fingers,  for  she  is  wise  enough  to  have 
stayed  thee  from  this  holiday  had  she  willed  it. 
But  she  is  tender-hearted,  and  kind,  and  soft,  and 
might  well  deem  that  if  thy  chastisement  were  done 
to  her  hand  here,  it  were  better  done  than  by  her 
mercy.  Now,  thrall,  I  have  spoken  enough  to 
thee,  or  more  than  enough  :  get  thee  back  out  of 
earshot ! 


CHAPTER    IV.       OF   THE    WITCH'S 
PRISON  IN  THE  WAILING-TOWER. 

IRDALONE  did  as  she  was  bidden,  and  the 
witch  called  unto  her  Atra,  who  came  and 
stood  humbly  on  the  footpace  beside  her, 
and  held  converse  with  her  mistress  a  while.  Then 
she  went  backward  from  her  a  little,  and  then  came 
to  Birdalone,  and  in  a  somewhat  harsh  voice  bade 
her  come  with  her.  Birdalone  followed  her,  quak- 
ing, and  they  came  out  of  the  hall  and  into  a  long 
passage,  which  led  to  a  wide  stair  winding  round 
a  newel ;  and  all  was  builded  exceeding  fair,  had 
Birdalone's  heart  suffered  her  eyes  to  see  it;  but 
her  flesh  was  weak,  and  quaked  before  the  torment 
to  come,  so  that  her  knees  well-nigh  failed  her. 

But  now  Atra  lays  a  hand  kindly  on  her  shoulder 
and  stays  her,  and  says  :  Now  meseems  the  walls  of 
the  Wailing-Tower,  for  so  it  hight,  have  no  ears 
to  hear,  and  we  may  talk  together.  Wottest  thou 
why  I  have  brought  thee  hither  ?  Said  Birdalone 
in  a  faint  voice :  Hast  thou  been  bidden  to  whip 
me  ?  And  if  I  had  been  so  bidden,  dear  maiden, 
said  Atra  laughing,  nowise  would  I  do  it.  Hold 
up  thine  heart !  For  all  hath  gone  well  so  far,  and 
now  meseems  betwixt  us  three  we  shall  save  thee. 

Birdalone's  spirit  came  back  to  her  at  that  word, 
and  she  put  her  hands  to  her  face  and  fell  a-weep- 
ing.  But  Atra  was  kind  to  her  and  made  much 
of  her  ;  and  she  kissed  her  and  wiped  her  tears, 
and  Birdalone  smiled  again  amidst  her  sobs,  and 
she  thanked  Atra;  who  said  to  her  :  First  of  all  I 


86     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

must  tell  thee  that  I  am  taking  thee  to  prison  by 
the  witch's  bidding.  Yea,  said  Birdalone,  and  what 
is  prison  ?  Said  Atra :  A  prison  is  a  grim  place 
where  poor  folk  who  have  done  that  which  pleas- 
eth  not  rich  folk  are  shut  up,  that  they  may  be 
grieved  and  tormented  by  not  being  able  to  fare 
abroad,  or  go  where  they  woild  ;  and  by  suffering 
whatsoever  their  masters  may  lay  upon  them,  as 
darkness,  and  cold,  and  hunger,  and  stripes.  Some- 
what so,  or  worse,  our  lady  would  have  it  for  thee  ; 
but  so  would  not  we.  Therefore  for  thee  shall  this 
prison  be  a  place  where  thou  shalt  be  safe  till  we 
may  bring  thee  forth  when  the  night  hath  worn 
towards  its  ending.  For  she  v/ill  have  forgotten 
thee  by  to-morrow ;  and  this  she  knoweth  ;  where- 
fore just  now,  when  thou  stoodest  out  of  earshot, 
she  was  bidding  me,  amongst  other  matters,  to  bring 
thee  before  her  to-morrow  morning,  and  tell  her 
the  tale  of  thee,  that  she  might  call  it  to  mind  then 
what  she  had  will  to  this  morning. 

Yea,  said  Birdalone,  but  will  she  not  remember 
that  she  hath  given  thee  a  charge  concerning  me  ? 
But  little  thereof,  said  Atra,  and  with  a  few  words  I 
may  easily  confuse  her  memory  so  that  speech  there- 
on will  fail  her.  Keep  up  thine  heart,  sweetling; 
but  let  us  up  this  stair  now  forthwith,  for  I  were 
fain  to  have  thee  hid  away  in  this  prison,  and  then 
will  I  down  to  her  and  tell  her  that  thou  art  lying 
therein  in  all  misery  and  terror,  lest  it  come  into  her 
head  to  send  for  thee  ere  her  memory  is  grown  dim. 

Again  did  Birdalone  take  heart,  and  they  has- 
tened a  long  way  up  the  stair,  till  Atra  stayed  at 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  87 

last  at  a  door  all  done  with  iron,  endlong  and  over- 
thwart.  Then  she  took  a  leash  of  keys  from  her 
girdle,  one  big  and  two  little,  and  set  the  big  one 
in  the  lock  and  turned  it,  and  shoved  the  heavy 
door  and  entered  thereby  a  chamber  four-square 
and  vaulted  ;  and  the  vault  was  upheld  by  a  pillar 
of  red  marble,  wherein,  somewhat  higher  than  a 
man's  head,  were  set  stanchions  of  latten,  that  could 
be  clasped  and  unclasped.  This  chamber  was  in 
a  way  goodly,  but  yet  grim  to  look  on  ;  for  the 
walls  were  all  of  black  ashlar  stone  close-jointed, 
and  the  floor  black  also,  but  of  marble  polished  so 
wholly  that  it  was  as  dark  water,  and  gave  back 
the  image  of  Birdalone's  dear  feet  and  legs  as  she 
went  thereon.  The  windows  were  not  small,  and 
the  chamber  was  light  in  every  corner  because  of 
them,  but  they  were  so  high  up  under  the  vaulting 
that  none  might  see  thereout  aught  save  the  heavens. 
There  was  nought  in  the  chamber  save  a  narrow 
bench  of  oak  and  three  stools  of  the  same,  a  great 
and  stately  carven  chair  dight  with  cushions  of  pur- 
ple and  gold,  and  in  one  corner  a  big  oaken  coffer. 
Now  spake  Atra  :  This  is  our  lady's  prison,  and 
I  fear  me  we  cannot  make  it  soft  for  thee,  dear 
stranger.  Yea,  I  must  tell  thee  (and  she  reddened 
therewith)  that  it  is  part  of  my  charge  to  set  thee 
in  irons.  Birdalone  smiled  on  her,  and  was  over 
weary  to  ask  what  that  meant,  though  she  knew 
not.  But  Atra  went  to  the  big  coffer  and  opened 
it  and  thrust  in  her  hands,  and  there  was  a  jangling 
therewith,  and  when  she  turned  about  to  Birdalone 
again  she  had  iron  chains  in  her  hands,  and  she 


88     THE  WATER  OF  THE  V/ONDROUS  ISLES 

said :  This  shameth  me,  dear  friend ;  yet  if  thou 
wouldst  wear  them  it  might  be  well,  for  she  may 
have  a  mind  to  go  visit  her  prison,  and  if  she  find 
thee  there  unshackled  she  shall  be  wroth,  and  often- 
est  her  wrath  hath  a  whip  in  its  hand.  And  these 
are  the  lightest  that  I  might  find. 

Birdalone  smiled  again,  and  spake  not,  for  she 
Vv^as  very  weary,  and  Atra  did  the  irons  on  her 
wrists  and  her  ankles  ;  and  said  thereafter  :  Yet 
bear  in  mind  that  it  is  a  friend  that  hath  the  key  of 
these  things.  And  now  I  will  go  away  for  a  little, 
but  I  shall  be  on  thine  errands;  for  first  I  shall 
tell  the  mistress  that  thou  art  lying  here  shackled 
and  in  all  wanhope  ;  and  next,  by  the  will  and  com- 
mand of  her,  I  am  to  see  that  thou  be  well  fed  and 
nourished  to-day  that  thou  mayst  be  the  stronger 
for  to-morrow.  Now  if  I  may  give  thee  rede,  it 
is  that  thou  forbear  to  open  the  coffer  yonder ;  for 
ugly  things  shalt  thou  find  there,  and  that  may 
dishearten  thee  again. 

Therewith  she  kissed  her  kindly  on  the  cheek 
and  went  her  ways,  and  the  great  key  turned  in  the 
lock  behind  her. 

There  then  was  Birdalone  left  to  herself;  and 
she  was  over  weary  even  to  weep ;  true  it  is  that 
she  made  a  step  or  two  towards  the  coffer,  but  re- 
frained her,  and  took  two  of  the  pillows  from  the 
great  chair  and  turned  aside  into  the  other  corner, 
her  chains  jingling  as  she  went.  There  she  laid 
herself  down,  and  nestled  into  the  very  wall-nook, 
and  presently  fell  asleep,  and  slumbered  dream- 
lessly  and  sweetly  a  long  while. 


CHAPTER  V.     THEY   FEAST    IN   THE 
WITCH'S  PRISON. 

BIRD  ALONE  was  awakened  by  the  sound  of 
the  key  in  the  lock,  and  the  door  opened, 
and  there  was  Atra  bearing  dishes  and  plat- 
ters, and  behind  her  Viridis  with  the  like  gear,  and 
beakers  and  a  flagon  to  boot,  and  both  they  were 
smiling  and  merry. 

Birdalone's  heart  leapt  up  to  meet  them,  and  in 
especial  was  she  gladdened  by  the  coming  of  Viri- 
dis, who  had  seemed  to  be  the  kindest  of  them  all. 

Viridis  spake:  Now  is  come  the  meat  for  the  dear 
sister,  and  it  is  time,  for  surely  thou  art  famished, 
and  it  is  now  long  past  high  noon.  Do  off  her  irons, 
Atra.  Said  Atra  :  Maybe  it  were  well  to  let  the 
fetters  abide  on  her  ankles,  lest  the  mistress  should 
come ;  but  for  the  wrists,  reach  out  thine  hands, 
wayfarer.  So  did  Birdalone,  and  Atra  laid  her  things 
on  the  grou  nd,  and  unlocked  the  hand-shackles,  and 
did  them  off:  and  meanwhile  Viridis  spread  forth 
the  banquet,  partly  on  the  floor,  and  partly  on  that 
ill-omened  coffer.  Then  she  went  up  to  Birdalone 
and  kissed  her,  and  said  :  Now  shalt  thou  sit  in 
our  lady's  throne,  and  we  shall  serve  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  deem  thee  a  great  one. 

Nought  else  would  they  have,  and  Birdalone  laid 
her  nakedness  on  the  purple  cushions,  and  then  they 
fell  all  three  to  the  feast.  The  victual  was  both 
plenteous  and  dainty,  of  venison  and  fowl,  and  cream 
and  fruits  and  sweetmeats,  and  good  wine  they  had 
withal :  never  had  Birdalone  feasted  in  like  manner, 


go     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  the  heart  came  back  unto  her,  and  her  cheeks 
grew  rosy  and  her  eyes  ghttered.  But  she  said  : 
How  if  your  lady  were  to  come  upon  us  here,  and 
we  so  merry  ?  Said  Atra  :  Out  of  the  chair  must 
thou  when  thou  hearest  the  key  in  the  lock,  and 
then  is  all  well,  and  she  would  have  nought  against 
us  ;  for  she  herself  bade  us,  and  me  in  special,  to 
keep  thee  company  here,  and  talk  with  thee  ;  and 
Aurea  also  would  have  been  here,  but  that  she  is 
serving  the  lady  as  now.  Hath  she  then  some  pity 
on  me,  said  Birdalone,  that  she  hath  bidden  thee 
do  by  me  what  is  most  to  my  pleasure  ? 

Laughed  Viridis  thereat,  and  Atra  said:  She  hath 
no  pity,  nor  ever  shall  have  ;  but  so  hard  of  heart 
is  she,  that  she  may  not  deem  that  we  could  love 
thee,  a  stranger,  and  unhappy,  who  can  serve  us 
in  nowise  ;  so  she  feareth  not  the  abatement  of  thy 
grief  from  any  compassion  of  us.  Rather  she 
hath  sent  us,  and  me  in  especial,  not  to  comfort 
thee,  but  to  grieve  thee  by  words  ;  for  she  biddeth 
me  tell  thee  fair  tales,  forsooth,  of  what  to-morrow 
shall  be  to  thee,  and  the  day  after  ;  and  of  how  she 
shall  begin  on  thee,  and  what  shall  follow  the  be- 
ginning, and  what  thou  mayst  look  for  after  that. 
For  by  all  this  she  deemeth  to  lower  thy  pride  and 
abate  thy  valour,  and  to  make  every  moment  of 
to-day  a  terror  to  thy  flesh  and  thy  soul,  so  that 
thereby  thou  mayest  thole  the  bitterness  twice  over. 
Such  is  her  pity  for  thee  !  And  yet  belike  this 
cruelty  hath  saved  thee,  for  but  for  that  she  had 
not  refrained  her  from  thee  to-day,  and  to-morrow 
thou  shalt  be  far  away  from  her. 


OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  9T 

Meanwhile,  said  Viridis,  in  her  soft  sweet  voice, 
none  of  all  these  things  will  we  talk  over  with  thee, 
but  things  comfortable  and  kind ;  and  we  will  tell 
each  to  each  of  our  story.  Will  v/e  not,  Atra?  Yea, 
verily,  said  she. 

Birdalone  looked  upon  them  and  said  :  Won- 
drous is  your  compassion  and  loving-kindness  unto 
me,  and  scarce  do  I  know  how  to  bear  the  burden 
thereof  But  tell  me  one  thing  truly  ;  will  ye  not 
suffer  in  my  place  when  this  witch  cometh  to  know 
that  ye  have  stolen  me  away  from  her  ? 

Nay,  said  Atra,  I  have  told  thee  that  by  to- 
morrow she  will  have  altogether,  or  at  least  almost, 
forgotten  thee  and  thy  coming  hither.  Moreover, 
she  is  foreseeing,  and  hath  come  to  know  that  if  she 
raise  a  hand  against  any  of  us  three,  it  will  lead  her 
to  her  bane,  save  it  be  for  heavy  guilt  clearly  proven 
ap-ainst  us.  Forsooth,  in  the  earlier  days  of  our  cap- 
tivity such  a  guilt  we  fell  into,  and  did  not  wholly 
escape,  as  Viridis  can  bear  me  witness.  But  we  are 
now  grown  wiser,  and  know  our  mistress  better,  and 
will  give  her  no  such  joy. 

Viridis  cast  her  eyes  down  at  those  words  and 
Atra's  smile,  and  turned  red  and  then  pale,  and 
Birdalone  looked  on  her  wondering  what  ailed  her; 
then  she  said  :  Do  ye  sisters  work  in  the  field 
and  the  garden?  I  mean  at  milking  the  kine  and 
the  goats,  and  digging  the  earth,  and  sowing  and 
reaping,  and  the  like.  Nay,  said  Atra  ;  either  our 
mistress,  or  someone  else  who  is  of  marvellous 
might,  hath  so  ordained,  that  here  everything  wax- 
eth  of  itself  without  tillage,  or  sowing  or  reaping, 


92     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

or  any  kind  of  tending ;  and  whatso  we  need  of 
other  matters  the  mistress  taketh  it  for  us  from  out 
of  her  Wonder-coffer,  or  suffereth  us  to  take  it  for 
ourselves.  For  thou  must  know  that  this  land  is 
one  of  the  Isles  of  the  Lake,  and  is  called  the  Isle 
of  Increase  Unsought. 

Meseemeth  then,  said  Birdalone,  were  the  mis- 
tress of  you  to  gainsay  you  the  gifts  of  the  Won- 
der-coffer, ye  were  undone.  Yea,  verily,  said 
Atra  ;  then  would  be  but  the  fruits  of  the  earth 
and  the  wild  creatures  for  our  avail,  and  these,  we 
have  not  learned  how  to  turn  them  into  dinner  and 
supper.  And  they  all  laughed  thereat ;  but  Bird- 
alone  said :  See  ye  then  how  I  was  right  to  offer 
myself  unto  you  as  a  servant,  for  in  all  matters  of 
the  house  and  the  byre  and  the  field  have  I  skill. 
But  since  ye  would  not  or  could  not  have  me,  I 
wonder  not  that  ye  be  ill  at  ease  here,  and  long  to 
be  gone,  for  as  plenteous  and  lovely  as  the  isle  is, 
and  though  ye  live  here  without  present  mishand- 
ling or  pining.  For,  sooth  to  say,  ye  have  over 
you  a  tyrant  and  a  fool. 

Viridis  answered :  Yet  is  there  something  else, 
dear  friend,  that  whets  our  longing  to  depart. 
Tell  her  thereof,  Atra. 

Atra  smiled  and  said  :  Simple  it  is  :  there  are 
they  who  long  for  us  and  for  whom  we  long,  and 
we  would  be  together.  Said  Birdalone  :  Be  these 
kinsfolk  of  yours,  as  fathers,  mothers,  sisters, 
brothers,  or  the  like  ? 

Reddened  Viridis  again  ;  but  Atra  spake,  and 
she  also  blushed  somewhat,  though  she  smiled  : 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  ^3 

Those  whom  we  love,  and  who  love  us,  be  not 
queans,  but  carles  ;  neither  be  they  of  our  blood, 
but  aliens,  till  love  overcometh  them  and  causeth 
them  to  long  to  be  of  one  flesh  with  us  ;  and  their 
longing  is  beyond  measure,  and  they  desire  our 
bodies,  which  they  deem  far  fairer  than  belike  they 
be.  And  they  would  bed  us,  and  beget  children 
on  us.  And  all  this  we  let  them  do  with  a  good 
will,  because  we  love  them  for  their  might,  and 
their  truth,  and  the  hotness  of  their  love  toward 
us. 

Looked  up  Viridis  thereat,  and  her  eyes  gleamed 
amidst  the  flushing  of  her  cheeks,  and  she  said  : 
Sister,  sister  !  even  in  such  wise,  and  no  other,  as 
they  desire  us  do  we  desire  them  ;  it  is  no  mere 
good  will  toward  them  from  us,  but  longing  and 
hot  love. 

Now  must  Atra  blush  no  less  than  Viridis  ;  yet 
she  but  said  :  I  have  told  thee  hereof,  Birdalone, 
because  I  deem  that  thou  hast  lived  simply  and 
without  the  sight  of  men  ;  but  it  is  what  all  know 
in  the  world  of  the  sons  of  Adam.  Said  Bird- 
alone  :  Thou  sayest  sooth  concerning  me.  Yet 
about  this  love  have  I  learned  somewhat  even  ere 
to-day,  and  now,  as  ye  speak  and  I,  meseems  the 
lore  of  it  comes  pouring  in  on  me  and  fills  my 
heart  with  its  sweetness.  And  O,  to  have  such 
love  from  any,  and  with  such  love  to  be  loved 
withal  ! 

Dear  sister,  said  little  Viridis,  fear  not ;  such  as 
thou  shall  not  fail  of  the  love  of  some  man  whom 
thou  must  needs  love.     Is  it  not  so,  sister  Atra? 


94     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Said  Atra  :  Yea  ;  such  love  shall  come  unto  her 
as  surely  as  death. 

They  were  silent  now  a  little,  and  it  was  as  if 
some  sweet  incense  had  been  burned  within  the 
chamber.  For  Birdalone  the  colour  came  and  went 
in  her  cheeks,  her  flesh  quaked,  her  heart  beat 
quick,  and  she  was  oppressed  by  the  sweetness  of 
longing.  More  daintily  she  moved  her  limbs,  and 
laid  foot  to  foot  and  felt  the  sleekness  of  her  sides  ; 
and  tender  she  was  of  her  body  as  of  that  which 
should  one  day  be  so  sorely  loved. 

Now  she  spake  timidly  to  the  others,  and  said : 
Each  one  of  you  then  has  a  man  who  loves  her, 
and  longs  for  her  and  for  none  else  ?  So  it  is, 
said  Viridis.  How  sweet  that  shall  be  !  said  Bird- 
alone  ;  and  now  all  the  more  I  wonder  that  ye 
could  trouble  yourselves  over  me,  or  think  of  me 
once ;  and  the  kinder  I  think  it  of  you. 

Said  Atra  smiling  on  her  :  Nay,  now  must  the 
cat  be  out  of  the  bag,  and  I  must  tell  thee  that 
thou  art  to  think  of  us  as  chapmen  who  with  our 
kindness  would  buy  something  of  thee,  to  wit, 
that  thou  wouldst  do  an  errand  for  us  to  those 
three  lovers  of  ours.  Surely,  said  Birdalone,  it 
were  a  little  payment  to  set  against  your  saving  of 
my  life  and  my  soul ;  and  had  I  to  go  barefoot 
over  red  gleeds  I  would  do  it.  And  yet,  if  I  may 
go  hence  to  your  lovers,  why  not  all  three  of  you 
along  with  me  ? 

Said  Atra  :  For  this  reason  ;  thy  ferry,  the  Send- 
ing Boat,  wherein  ye  came  hither,  is  even  somewhat 
akin  to  thv  mistress  and  ours ;  and   the  mistress 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  95 

here  hath  banned  it  against  bearing  us ;  and  now, 
were  we  so  much  as  to  touch  it,  such  sore  turmoil 
would  arise,  and  such  hideous  noise  as  if  earth  and 
heaven  were  falling  together ;  and  the  lady  would 
be  on  us  straightway,  and  we  should  be  undone  ; 
and,  as  thou  shalt  hear  presently,  this  hath  been 
proved.  But  thou,  thou  art  free  of  the  said  ferry. 
Forsooth  I  wot  not  why  thy  mistress  banned  it 
not  against  thee ;  maybe  because  she  deemed  not 
that  thou  wouldst  dare  to  use  it  or  even  go  anigh 
it. 

Birdalone  considered,  and  thought  that  even  so 
It  was;  that  the  witch  deemed  that  she  would  not 
dare  use  the  Sending  Boat,  nor  know  how  to,  even 
if  she  came  upon  it,  and  that  if  she  did  so  find  it, 
she  would  sicken  her  of  the  road  thereto.  So  now 
she  told  her  friends  the  whole  tale  thereof  more 
closely  than  she  had  afore,  save  again  what  per- 
tained to  Habundia ;  withal  she  told  every  word 
of  what  her  mistress  had  said  to  her  at  that  time 
when  she  changed  her  into  a  hind.  And  Viridis 
heard  and  wondered,  and  pitied  her.  But  Atra  sat 
somewhat  downcast  a  while.  Then  she  said :  How- 
ever this  may  be,  we  will  send  thee  forth  to-mor- 
row in  the  dawn,  and  take  the  risk  of  what  may 
befall  thereafter ;  and  thou  shalt  bear  a  token  for 
each  of  those  three  that  love  us.  For  we  deem  that 
they  have  not  forgotten  aught,  but  are  still  seek- 
ing us. 

Birdalone  said  :  Whatsoever  ye  bid  me,  that  will 
I  do,  and  deem  me  your  debtor  still.  But  now  I 
pray  you,  pleasure  a  poor  captive  somewhat  more. 


g6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Wherein  ?  said  they  both  ;  we  be  all  ready  thereto. 
Said  the  maiden  :  Would  ye  do  so  much  as  to  tell 
me  the  tale  of  how  ye  came  hither,  and  then  how  it 
hath  been  with  you  from  your  first  coming  until 
now  ?     With  a  good  will,  said  Atra ;  hearken  ! 


CHAPTER  VI.  ATRA  TELLS  OF  HOW 
THEY  THREE  CAME  UNTO  THE  ISLE 
OF  INCREASE  UNSOUGHT. 

WE  were  born  and  bred  in  the  land  that  lies 
southwest  along  this  Great  Water,  and  we 
waxed  happily,  and  became  fellows  when 
we  were  yet  but  children,  and  thus  grew  up  dear 
friends  into  maidenhood  and  womanhood.  We 
were  wooed  by  many  men,  but  our  hearts  turned 
to  none  of  them  save  unto  three,  who  were  goodly, 
kind,  and  valiant ;  and  thou  mayst  call  them  the 
Golden  Knight,  who  is  Aurea's  man;  the  Green 
Knight,  who  is  man  of  Viridis  ;  and  my  man,  the 
Black  Squire.  But  in  this  was  unhap,  that  be- 
cause of  certain  feuds  which  had  endured  from  old 
time,  this  love  was  perilous  unto  them  and  us ;  so 
that  we  lived  in  doubt  and  unrest. 

Came  a  day,  now  three  years  ago,  when  the  king 
of  the  whole  land  brought  his  folk  into  our  lake- 
side country,  and  there  held  a  court  and  a  mote  in 
a  fair  great  meadow  anigh  to  the  water.  But  even 
as  the  mote  was  hallowed,  and  the  Peace  of  God 
proclaimed  at  the  blast  of  the  war-horn,  came  we 
three  woeful  ladies  clad  in  black  and  knelt  before 
the  lord  king,  and  prayed  him  hearken  us.  And 
he  deemed  that  we  were  fair,  so  he  had  compassion 
on  us,  and  raised  us  up,  and  bade  us  speak. 

So  we  told  our  tale,  how  that  strife  and  wounds 
and  death  stood  betwixt  us  and  love  ;  and  we  wept, 
and  bewailed  it,  that  our  love  must  be  slain  because 
men  were  wroth  with  each  other  and  not  with  us. 


98      THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

The  king  looked  on  us  kindly,  and  said  :  Who 
be  the  swains  for  whom  these  lovely  damsels  make 
such  a  piece  of  work  ?  So  we  named  them,  and 
said  that  they  were  there  in  the  mote  ;  and  the  king 
knew  them  for  valiant  men  who  had  done  him  good 
service ;  and  he  cried  out  their  names,  and  bade 
them  stand  forth  out  of  the  throng.  So  forth  they 
stood,  the  Golden  Knight,  the  Green  Knight,  and 
the  Black  Squire  (and  he  also  was  now  a  knight) ; 
but  now  were  they  all  three  clad  in  black,  and  they 
were  unarmed,  save  for  their  swords  girt  to  their 
sides,  without  which  no  man  amongst  us  may  come 
to  the  mote,  be  he  baron  or  earl  or  duke,  or  the 
very  lord  king  himself. 

So  the  king  looked  upon  us  and  them,  and 
laughed  and  said  :  Fair  ladies,  ye  have  got  me  by 
the  nose,  so  needs  must  my  body  follow.  Do  ye 
three  knights,  whom  I  know  for  valiant  men  and 
true,  take  each  his  love  by  the  hand,  and  let  the 
weddings  be  to-morrow.  Who  then  were  joyful 
but  us  ?  But  even  at  the  word  the  king  spake  arose 
great  turmoil  in  the  mote,  for  they  smote  the  feud 
and  contention  awake,  and  men  thronged  forward 
against  each  other,  and  swords  were  drawn  and 
brandished.  But  the  king  arose  in  his  place  and 
spake  long  and  deftly,  and  waxed  exceeding  wroth, 
while  none  heeded  him  nor  hearkened.  And  there 
stood  our  three  men,  who  laid  no  hand  to  hilt,  but 
abode  heart-whole  by  seeming  amid  the  tumult. 
And  lovely  they  were  to  look  on.  At  last  the  wise 
men  and  old  barons  went  between,  and  by  fair  words 
appeased  the  trouble,  and  the  mote  grew  hushed. 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  99 

Then  spake  the  king  :  What  is  this,  my  thanes  ? 
I  had  deemed  that  my  foemen  were  far  away,  and 
that  ye  that  here  are  were  all  friends  unto  me  and 
unto  each  other.  But  now  must  we  try  another 
rede.  Therewith  he  turned  unto  our  men  and  said : 
Ye  champions,  are  ye  so  much  in  love  with  Love 
that  ye  will  fight  for  him  ?  They  all  yeasaid  that, 
and  then  the  king  said  :  Then  do  I  declare  that 
these  three  will  hold  the  field  against  all  comers 
from  matins  till  high  noon,  and  that  he  who  van- 
quisheth  any  one  of  them  shall  have  his  lady  and 
wed  her  if  he  will,  and,  if  he  will,  shall  ransom  her. 
And  this  field  shall  be  foughten  after  two  months' 
frist  in  these  fair  meadows,  when  1  return  from  the 
outermost  marches  of  the  south,  whereto  I  am  now 
wending.  But  when  the  battle  is  done,  then  let  all 
men  bow  to  the  judgment  of  God,  whether  he  be 
well  content  or  not,  and  this  on  peril  of  life  and 
limb.  And  now  let  there  be  deep  peace  between 
all  men  meanwhile  ;  and  if  any  break  the  peace,  be 
he  high  or  low,  rich  or  unrich,  churl  or  earl,  I  swear 
it  by  the  souls  of  my  fathers  that  he  shall  lose 
nought  save  his  life  therefor. 

At  these  words  was  there  a  rumour  of  yeasay, 
and  all  men  were  content,  save  we  three  poor  maid- 
ens, into  whose  hearts  had  now  entered  fear  of  loss 
and  death. 

But  our  kindreds  on  both  sides  were  glad  and 
proud,  and  they  were  not  so  bitter  against  us  as 
they  had  been  ;  they  put  hand  to  pouch,  and  let 
rear  for  us  a  fair  pavilion  of  painted  timber,  all 
hung  with  silk  and  pictured  cloths  and  Saracen 


lOO     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

tapestry,  by  the  very  lake-side  ;  and  gay  boats  gaily 
bedight  lay  off  the  said  pavilion  for  our  pleasure ; 
and  when  all  was  done,  it  yet  lacked  a  half  month 
of  the  day  of  battle,  and  thither  were  we  brought 
in  triumph  by  the  kindreds  on  a  fair  day  of  May, 
and  there  was  not  a  sword  or  a  spear  amongst  the 
whole  company,  and  peaceful  and  merry  was  all  by 
seeming.  But  we  were  not  suffered  to  meet  our 
lovers  all  this  while,  from  the  time  when  the  mote 
was. 

Now  on  a  day  came  a  messenger  on  the  spur, 
and  did  us  to  wit  that  the  king  would  be  with  us 
on  the  morrow,  and  that  the  day  after,  the  fateful 
field  should  be  foughten.  Then,  though  the  com- 
ing of  this  day  had  been  so  longed  for  by  us,  yet 
now  it  was  at  hand  it  cast  us  into  all  unrest  and 
trouble,  so  that  we  scarce  knew  whether  to  go,  or 
stand,  or  sit,  or  what  to  do  with  our  bodies.  Our 
folk,  and  all  other  men  withal,  were  so  busy 
making  ready  for  the  morrow  of  to-morrow,  that 
they  left  us  alone  to  wear  through  the  day  as  we 
might. 

Now  it  was  afternoon,  and  the  day  hot  and  hazy, 
and  we  stood  on  the  very  lip  of  the  land  wearied 
with  hope  and  fear,  and  striving  to  keep  good 
countenance  to  each  other ;  and  there  came  a  boat 
unto  the  shore  gaily  painted  and  gilded,  and  be- 
dight with  silken  cloths  and  cushions ;  and  the 
steerer  thereof  was  a  woman,  not  young,  by  seeming 
of  fifty  winters  ;  red-haired  she  was,  thin-lipped  and 
narrow-eyed,  flat-breasted  and  strait-hipped ;  an 
ungoodly  woman,  though  her  skin  was  white  and 


OF   THE    WONDROUS   ISLES  lOI 

smooth  as  for  her  age.  Hast  thou  ever  seen  such 
an  one,  guest  ?  Said  Birdalone,  smihng  :  Forsooth 
that  have  I  ;  for  such  an  one  is  my  mistress  to 
behold. 

Well,  said  Atra,  this  dame  stretched  out  her 
hands  to  us,  and  said  :  Will  not  the  pretty  ladies, 
the  dear  ladies,  who  have  nought  on  hand  this 
afternoon,  come  into  my  boat  and  look  on  the  face 
of  the  water,  so  calm  and  fair  as  it  is,  and  let  their 
lovely  hands  go  over  the  gunwale  and  play  with 
the  ripple,  and  so  beguile  this  heavy  time  for  a 
two  hours  ;  and  then  give  a  little  gift  of  a  piece  or 
two  of  silver  to  a  poor  carline,  who  loveth  all  fair 
ladies  and  bright  warriors,  and  who  needeth  a  little 
livelihood  ? 

Now  the  woman  seemed  nought  lovely  unto  us, 
and  to  me  forsooth  she  seemed  hateful ;  but  we 
looked  on  each  other,  and  we  found  that  we  were 
utterly  weary  of  going  up  and  down  on  the  meadow, 
and  lying  about  in  the  pavilion,  and  it  seemed  as 
if  this  would  give  us  a  little  rest ;  withal  we  saw 
not  that  the  woman  could  do  us  any  hurt,  whereas 
we  were  three,  and  strong  enough  as  women  go ; 
nor  were  we  mariners  so  evil  but  that  we  might 
sail  or  steer  a  boat  at  a  pinch.  So  we  stepped  into 
the  boat  straightway,  and  the  woman  sat  aft  and 
paddled  deftly  with  the  steering  oar,  and  we  glided 
away  from  the  land. 

Soon  we  were  come  so  far  that  we  could  but  just 
see  our  pavilion  through  the  haze,  which  had  some- 
what thickened,  and  we  said  to  the  woman  that 
she  should  go  about  and  make  for  the  shore,  and 


102     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

that  then  we  would  go  to  and  fro  a  while  along  by 
our  stead.  She  nodded  yeasay,  and  began  by  seem- 
ing to  dight  the  craft  for  return.  But  therewith 
the  haze  was  grown  suddenly  into  a  low  cloud, 
which  came  down  upon  us  from  the  south-west  in 
the  arms  of  a  cold  breeze,  that  grew  stronger  every 
minute,  so  no  wonder  it  was  though  the  steerer 
might  not  keep  head  to  wind ;  and  then  who  was 
afraid  and  ashamed  save  ourselves  ? 

But  the  woman  said,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a 
mock  in  her  voice  :  111  luck,  pretty  ladies  !  Now 
is  there  nought  for  it  but  to  drive,  if  we  would  not 
drown.  But  belike  this  duskiness  will  clear  pres- 
ently, and  then  at  least  we  shall  know  whither  we 
be  going ;  and  we  may  either  turn  back,  or  seek 
some  other  shelter,  for  I  know  the  lake  well ;  I 
know,  I  know. 

We  were  too  terror-stricken  to  speak,  for  we  felt 
that  still  the  wind  grew  stronger,  and  the  lake  be- 
gan to  rise  into  waves,  and  the  craft  to  wallow ; 
but  well-nigh  therewith  was  the  dusk  and  the  mist 
gone  ;  the  sky  was  bright  blue  overhead,  and  the 
westering  sun  shone  cloudless  ;  but  on  no  land  it 
shone,  or  on  aught  save  the  blue  waters  and  the 
white  wave-crests. 

Then  wept  Aurea,  and  this  Viridis  here,  but  as 
to  me,  I  grew  wroth  and  cried  out  to  the  steerer : 
Accursed  carline  !  thou  hast  betrayed  us ;  never 
now  may  we  get  back  to  our  pavilion  till  the  fight 
is  foughten,  and  our  lovers  will  deem  that  we  have 
forsaken  them,  and  we  are  shamed  for  ever.  Well, 
well,  said  the  carline,  what  remedy  save  patience 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  lOJ 

for  the  winds  and  waves  ?  And  she  laughed 
mockingly.  Quoth  I :  There  is  this  remedy, 
that  we  three  arise  and  lay  hands  on  thee,  and 
cast  thee  outboard,  save  thou  straightway  turn 
the  boat's  head  and  back  to  the  main.  Forsooth 
I  doubt  not  but  that  as  thou  hast  raised  this 
foul  wind  against  us,  thou  canst  raise  a  fair  wind 
for  us. 

Hearken  to  the  lovely  lady  !  quoth  the  carline, 
how  she  deemeth  me  to  be  none  other  than  the  great 
God  himself,  to  hold  the  winds  in  the  hollow  of 
my  hand,  and  still  the  waves  with  a  word  !  What ! 
am  I  wrought  somewhat  after  his  image,  kind 
ladies?  And  she  grinned  horribly  therewith.  Then 
she  said  again  :  As  to  thy  remedy,  sweetling,  me- 
seemeth  it  nought.  For  how  shall  ye  sail  this 
stormy  water  when  your  captain  is  gone,  and  ye 
but  holiday  sailors  belike  ? 

As  she  spake,  a  great  wave  came  up  from  the 
windward,  and  brake  over  us,  and  half  filled  the 
craft,  and  lifted  her  bows  up  towering,  and  then 
down  we  went  into  the  trough  ;  and  I  sat  cowed 
and  quaking,  and  spake  never  another  word. 

Now  began  the  sun  to  sink,  and  the  wind  abated, 
and  the  sea  went  down,  but  the  boat  sped  on  as 
swift  as  ever  over  the  landless  waters. 

Now  the  sun  was  down,  and  dusk  was  at  hand, 
and  the  carline  spake,  and  drew  a  bright-gleaming 
sax  from  under  her  raiment :  Damsels,  I  warn  you 
that  now  it  were  best  that  ye  obey  me  in  all  things  ; 
for  though  ye  be  three  and  I  one,  yet  whereas  I 
have  here  an  edge-friend,  I   may  take  the  life  of 


I04     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

any  one  of  you,  or  of  all  three,  as  simply  as  I  could 
cut  a  lamb's  throat.  Moreover  it  will  serve  you 
better  in  the  house  whereto  ye  are  wending,  that 
I  make  a  good  tale  of  you  rather  than  a  bad.  For 
the  mistress  of  that  house  is  of  all  might ;  and  I 
must  say  it  of  her,  though  she  is  my  very  sister, 
yet  she  is  not  so  sweet-tempered  and  kind  of  heart 
as  I  am,  but  somewhat  rough  and  unyielding  of 
mood,  so  that  it  is  best  to  please  her.  Wherefore, 
maidens,  I  rede  you  be  sage. 

Our  unhappy  hearts  were  now  so  sunken  in  wan- 
hope,  that  we  had  no  word  wherewith  to  answer 
her,  and  she  spake  :  Now  obey  ye  my  bidding 
and  eat  and  drink,  that  ye  may  come  hale  and 
sound  to  your  journey's  end,  for  I  would  not  give 
starvelings  to  my  dear  sister.  Therewith  she 
brought  forth  victual  for  us,  and  that  nought  evil, 
of  flesh  and  bread,  and  cheese  and  cakes,  and  good 
wine  withal  ;  and  we  were  hunger-weary  as  well  as 
sorrow-weary  ;  and  hunger  did  at  that  moment 
overcome  sorrow,  so  we  ate  and  drank,  and,  would 
we,  would  we  not,  something  of  heart  came  back 
to  us  thereby.  Then  again  spake  the  carline : 
Now  my  will  is  that  ye  sleep ;  and  ye  have  cush- 
ions and  cloths  enough  to  dight  you  a  fair  bed  ; 
and  this  bidding  is  easy  for  you  to  obey.  Forsooth, 
so  weary  were  we  with  sorrow,  and  our  hunger 
was  now  quenched,  that  we  laid  us  down  and  slept 
at  once,  and  forgat  our  troubles. 

When  we  awoke  it  was  after  the  first  dawn, 
and  we  were  come  aland  even  where  thou  didst 
this  morning,  guest.     And  thou  mayst  deem  it 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  105 

wondrous,  but  so  it  was,  that  close  to  where  our 
boat  took  land  lay  the  ferry  which  brought  thee 
hither. 

Now  the  carline  bade  us  get  ashore,  and  we  did 
so,  and  found  the  land  wondrous  fair,  little  as  that 
solaced  us  then.  But  she  said  unto  us  :  Hearken  ! 
now  are  ye  come  home  ;  and  long  shall  ye  dwell 
here,  for  never  shall  ye  depart  hence  save  by  the  will 
of  my  sister  and  me,  wherefore,  once  more,  I  rede 
you  be  good,  for  it  will  be  better  for  you.  Go  forth 
now  unto  yonder  house,  and  on  the  way  ye  shall 
meet  the  Queen  of  this  land,  and  ye  have  nought  to 
do  but  to  say  to  her  that  ye  are  the  Gift  ;  and  then 
shall  she  see  to  your  matter. 

Therewith  she  gat  into  her  own  craft,  the  Send- 
ing Boat,  and  therein  did  the  deed  and  spake  the 
words  ye  wot  of,  and  was  gone  north-away  ;  and 
when  we  turned  to  seek  for  our  boat  wherein  we 
had  come  hither,  it  was  gone. 

We  stood  miserably  for  a  while  on  the  lip  of  the 
land,  and  then  I  said  that  we  might  as  well  go  meet 
our  fate  as  die  there  of  grief  and  hunger.  So  we 
went,  and  came  into  those  fair  gardens,  and  as  we 
went  slowly  up  toward  the  house  came  on  us  a 
woman  clad  in  red  scarlet  and  grandly  dight.  A 
big  woman  she  was,  and  like  to  her  that  beguiled 
us,  but  far  younger  and  fairer  of  favour,  foolish  and 
proud  of  visage.  She  stared  on  us,  and  seemed 
half  afeard  of  us  at  first,  but  asked  us  what  we 
were,  and  I  answered  that  we  were  the  Gift.  The 
Gift  ?  said  she,  what  meaneth  that  ?  Will  ye  obey 
me  in  all  things  ?     If  ye  gainsay  it,  ye  will  perish. 


Io6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

unless  ye  can  eat  grass  ;  for  on  this  isle  everything 
Cometh  from  my  hand. 

What  might  we  do  ?  We  all  knelt  down  before 
her,  and  swore  to  do  her  will.  Then  she  said,  after 
she  had  stared  on  us  a  while  :  Now  I  know  :  ye  are 
they  of  whom  my  sister  spake,  that  she  would  fetch 
me  a  gift  of  a  leash  of  damsels  for  my  service. 
Now  I  take  the  Gift  and  thank  her  good  heart. 
But  if  ye  would  do  my  will,  then  .  .  .  But  she 
broke  off  here  and  stared  at  us  a  long  while,  and 
then  she  said :  Now  I  know  ;  she  bade  me  treat 
you  well,  and  hold  my  hand  from  you,  or  evil  would 
come  of  it,  belike  at  last  my  bane.  So  go  ye  home 
to  the  house,  and  I  will  give  you  meat  and  drink, 
and  show  you  my  stores  and  the  Wonder-coffer, 
and  ye  shall  serve  me  in  honour. 

Even  so  did  we  ;  and  we  ate  and  drank  and 
rested,  and  nought  we  lacked,  save  leave  to  depart 
home  to  our  lovers,  and  some  mistress  better  than 
this  stupid  and  proud  lump  of  flesh.  But  the  next 
morning  when  we  came  before  the  lady,  she  knew 
nought  of  what  we  were  ;  and  again  we  had  to  tell 
her  that  we  were  the  Gift,  and  again  she  glared  at 
us  balefully,  and  again  she  called  to  mind  her  sis- 
ter and  her  rede  concerning  us.  And  this  went  on 
for  many  days,  till  at  last  she  got  to  know  what  we 
were  ;  and  she  followed  her  sister's  rede  in  that  she 
never  mishandled  us,  though  we  could  see  that  it 
irked  her  to  forbear,  nor  did  she  speak  to  us  more 
roughly  than  her  fool's  wont  was  ;  and  we  had  in 
our  hands  all  that  was  needed  for  our  sustenance, 
and  lived  easily  enough. 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  1 07 

Now  our  coming  hither  betid  three  years  ago, 
and  a  month  thereafter  comes  thy  witch  hither  in 
her  ferry,  and  she  greeted  us  when  we  met,  and 
asked  us,  grinning,  had  she  not  been  kind  to  win 
us  such  good  days  ?  Yea,  and  over  kind,  said  she, 
ye  would  deem  me,  knew  ye  what  would  have  betid 
you  save  for  my  good  word.  Forsooth  we  deemed 
it  no  kind  deed  to  steal  us  from  our  lovers  ;  but  we 
kept  good  tongues  in  our  heads,  for  thralls  must 
needs  kiss  the  rod. 

She  went  away  in  two  days,  but  came  again  many 
times  thereafter,  till  we  won  the  secret  of  the  Send- 
ing Boat,  and  her  spell  therewith  ;  but  we  knew 
not  that  was  banned  against  us.  Wherefore  on  a 
day  in  the  grey  of  the  morning,  when  we  had  been 
on  this  isle  somewhat  less  than  a  year,  v/e  went 
down  to  it  and  stepped  in,  and  reddened  stem  and 
stern  and  said  the  spell-words.  But  straightway 
arose  an  hideous  braying  and  clatter,  and  thunder 
came  therewith,  and  trembling  of  the  earth,  and 
the  waters  of  the  lake  arose  in  huge  waves ;  nor 
might  we  move  from  our  seats  in  the  boat  till  the 
two  witches  came  running  down  to  us,  and  haled 
us  out  ashore,  and  had  us  up  into  the  house,  and 
into  this  very  prison-chamber,  wherein  we  are  now 
sitting  so  merry.  And  here  we  bore  what  was 
laid  upon  us,  whereof,  dear  guest,  we  shall  tell  thee 
nought.  But  this  came  of  it,  that  never  thereafter 
durst  we  try  the  adventure  of  the  Sending  Boat, 
but  have  lived  on  in  lazy  sorrow  and  shameful  ease, 
till  thou,  dear  guest  and  sister,  wert  sent  hither  by 
heaven  for  our  helping. 


lo8  THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Now  what  became  of  the  king's  court,  and  the 
hazelled  field  of  our  champions,  we  wot  not,  or 
whether  they  be  yet  alive  we  cannot  tell  thee  ;  but 
if  they  be  alive,  it  is  to  them  that  we  would  have 
thee  do  our  errand,  and  thereof  will  we  tell  thee 
closely  to-morrow.  And  so,  sweetling,  an  end  of 
my  tale. 


CHAPTER  VII.  THE  THREE  DAM- 
SELS TAKE  BIRDALONE  OUT  OF  THE 
WITCH'S  PRISON. 

BIRD  ALONE  thanked  Atra  much  for  her  tale, 
and  strange  it  was  to  her  to  hear  of  such  new 
things  and  the  deeds  of  folk  ;  but  the  dealing 
of  the  witches  with  those  three  was  familiar  to  her 
and  was  of  her  world. 

Now  they  talked  merrily,  till  there  came  a  foot- 
step to  the  door  and  one  without  knocked.  Viridis 
paled  thereat,  and  a  pang  of  fear  smote  Birdalone, 
and  she  swiftly  got  from  out  the  chair  and  sat  down 
on  a  stool ;  but  when  Atra  opened,  it  was  but  Aurea 
come  from  her  service  to  bid  Atra  take  her  place. 
So  she  went,  and  again  was  there  pleasant  converse 
betwixt  Aurea  and  the  other  twain;  and  certain 
matters  did  Aurea  tell  Birdalone  which  had  been 
left  untold  by  Atra.  And  chiefly,  when  Birdalone 
asked  if  any  other  folk  had  come  into  the  isle  while 
they  dwelt  there,  she  said  yea ;  once  had  come  a 
knight  with  a  ladv,  his  love,  fleeing  from  war  and 
mishap,  and  these  had  the  witch  overcome  by  wiz- 
ardry, and  destroyed  them  miserably :  and  that 
again  another  had  strayed  thither,  and  him  also  the 
witch  undid,  because  he  would  not  do  her  will  and 
lie  in  her  bed.  Withal  had  come  drifting  there  a 
young  damsel,  a  castaway  of  the  winds  and  waves ; 
her  the  witch  kept  as  a  thrall,  and  after  a  while  took 
to  mishandling  her  so  sorely,  that  at  last,  what  for 
shame  and  what  for  weariness  of  life,  she  cast  her- 
self into  the  water  and  was  drowned.    None  of  these 


no     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

folk  might  the  damsels  help  so  as  to  do  them  any 
good,  though  they  tried  it,  and  went  nigh  to  suffer 
therefor  themselves. 

Now  the  day  wore,  and  in  a  while  Atra  came 
back,  and  Viridis  must  serve.  At  last  the  dusk  and 
the  dark  was  come.  Then  said  Atra  :  Now  must 
we  twain  begone  to  wait  upon  our  lady,  as  the  wont 
is :  and  that  is  now  for  our  good  hap,  for  if  we  be 
with  her  all  three,  and  especially,  to  say  sooth,  if 
I  be  with  her,  we  may  well  keep  her  from  visiting 
thee  here  ;  since  belike  she  shall  yet  dimly  remem- 
ber that  thou  art  in  her  prison.  Therefore  thou 
must  forgive  it  if  I  shackle  thy  wrists  again.  And 
now  if  thou  wilt  follow  my  rede,  thou  shalt  try  to 
sleep  some  deal,  and  it  were  well  if  thou  might'st 
sleep  till  we  come  for  thee  in  the  grey  dawn. 

Therewith  they  left  her  there,  and  she  nestled 
in  the  corner  once  more,  and  there  did  verily  fall 
asleep,  and  slept  till  the  key  in  the  lock  and  the 
opening  door  awakened  her,  and  Atra  came  stealing 
soft-footed  into  the  prison.  Eager  she  was  and 
panting,  and  she  kneeled  before  Birdalone  and 
unlocked  her  leg-shackles,  and  then  stood  up  and 
did  the  like  by  the  irons  on  her  wrists.  Then  she 
said  :  Look  up,  dear  friend,  to  thy  prison  windows, 
and  behold  the  dawn  beginning  to  break  on  the  day 
of  thy  deliverance,  and  ours  maybe.  But  come  now 
at  once :  and  again,  wilt  thou  pardon  me,  that  we 
clothe  thee  not  here  for  thy  journey?  For  from 
our  own  bodies  must  we  clothe  thee,  and  if  by  any 
hap  our  lady  were  to  see  any  one  of  us  more  or 
less  unclad,  it  might  draw  her  on  to  see  what  was 


OF   THE    WONDROUS   ISLES  III 

toward,  and  we  might  yet  be  found  out,  for  our 
undoing. 

Therewith  she  took  her  hand,  and  led  her  forth 
of  the  prison,  and  locked  the  door  behind  her ; 
and  then  downstairs  they  went,  and  out-a-doors  by 
a  Httle  wicket  at  the  stair-end.  The  dawn  drew  on 
apace  now,  and  Birdalone  saw  at  once  the  other 
twain  lurking  in  the  wall-nook  hard  by.  No  word 
was  spoken  between  them,  and  with  noiseless  feet 
they  went  forth  into  the  orchard,  where  the  black- 
birds and  thrushes  were  beginning  their  first  morn- 
ing song,  and  ere  they  came  out  on  to  the  meadow 
the  full  choir  of  them  was  a-singing. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  IN  WHAT  WISE 
BIRDALONE  WAS  CLAD,  AND  HOW 
SHE  WENT  HER  WAYS  FROM  THE 
ISLE  OF  INCREASE  UNSOUGHT. 

WHEN  they  were  all  clear  of  the  orchard 
trees  the  three  damsels  kept  Birdalone  be- 
tween them  closely,  so  that  her  white  body 
should  not  be  seen  if  the  lady  were  awake  and  look- 
ing forth.  Thus  they  brought  her  to  where  a  few 
thorn-bushes  made  a  cover  for  them  close  to  the 
water's  edge,  some  twenty  yards  from  the  Sending 
Boat.  There  they  stood  together,  and  Atra  said  : 
Now,  dear  guest,  and  dearest  messenger,  it  is  our 
matter  to  clothe  thee  from  our  very  bodies ;  and 
do  thou,  Viridis,  begin. 

Viridis  came  forward  blushing,  as  her  wont  was, 
and  took  off  her  green  gown  and  laid  it  on  the  grass ; 
then  she  set  her  hand  to  her  smock,  and  did  it  off, 
and  stood  naked,  knee  set  to  knee,  and  swaying 
like  the  willow  branch  ;  and  then  was  seen  all  the 
dainty  fashion  of  her  body,  and  how  lovely  of  hue 
and  sweet  of  flesh  she  was. 

But  she  said:  Dear  sister  Birdalone,  here  is  my 
smock,  which  I  lend  thee,  but  as  to  my  love,  I  give 
it  thee  therewith  ;  therefore  grudge  it  not,  though 
thou  give  me  back  the  linen,  for  happy  will  be  the 
day  to  me  when  I  have  it  again  ;  for  now  none  may 
do  it  on  me  save  the  Green  Knight,  my  own  love. 
Therewith  she  gave  her  the  smock,  and  kissed  her, 
and  Birdalone  did  it  on,  and  felt  the  valianter  and 
mightier  when  she  had  a  garment  upon  her. 


OF   THE    WONDROUS   ISLES  IIJ 

Then  Aurea  did  off  her  golden  gown,  and  stood 
in  smock  alone,  so  that  hef  naked  arms  shone  more 
precious  than  the  golden  sleeves  that  had  covered 
them.  And  she  spake  :  Birdalone,  dear  messen- 
ger, take  now  my  golden  gown,  and  send  it  back 
to  me  when  thou  hast  found  the  man  unto  whom 
it  is  due  ;  and  think  meanwhile  that,  when  thou 
wearest  it,  thou  wearest  my  love,  and  that  when 
thou  pullest  it  off,  thou  art  clad  with  my  love  in- 
stead of  it. 

So  Birdalone  did  on  the  gown,  and  became  to 
look  on  as  the  daintiest  of  the  queens  of  the  earth  ; 
and  she  turned  her  head  about  to  look  on  her  gold- 
clad  fianks,  and  wondered. 

Thereafter  Atra  knit  up  her  skirts  into  her  girdle, 
and  then  did  off  her  shoon,  so  that  her  slim  feet 
shone  like  pearls  on  the  green  grass  ;  and  she  said  : 
Birdalone,  sweet  friend  !  wilt  thou  be  my  messen- 
ger to  bear  these  shoon  to  my  Black  Squire,  and 
meanwhile  put  my  love  for  thee  under  thy  feet,  to 
speed  thee  and  to  bear  thee  up  ^  Wherefore  be  good 
to  me. 

Birdalone  then  shod  herself,  and  though  pity  it 
were  to  hide  her  feet  from  the  eyes  of  Earth,  yet 
felt  she  the  stouter-hearted  thereby,  and  her  cheeks 
flushed  and  her  eyes  brightened. 

Thereafter  Aurea  gave  her  withal  a  golden  col- 
lar for  the  neck,  and  Viridis  a  girdle  of  silver  well- 
wrought,  and  Atra  a  gold  finger-ring  set  with  a 
sapphire  stone  ;  and  all  these  she  did  on  her  ;  but 
yet  she  knew  that  they  were  tokens  to  be  delivered 
to  the  three  lovers  according  as  was  due. 

8 


H4     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Then  spake  Atra :  Lo,  sister,  we  pray  thee  to 
bear  these  lendings  on  thy  body  in  such  wise  that 
when  thou  comest  to  the  mainland  they  may  be 
seen  by  knights  seeking  adventures,  and  that  thou 
mayst  answer  to  any  who  may  challenge  thee  there- 
of, and  say  that  thou  bearest  this  raiment  and  these 
jewels  from  Aurea  and  Viridis  and  Atra  to  Bau- 
doin  the  Golden  Knight,  and  to  Hugh  the  Green 
Knight,  and  to  Arthur  the  Black  Squire.  And  if 
thou  deem  that  thou  hast  found  these,  then  shall 
they  tell  thee  a  token,  such  as  we  shall  tell  thee, 
that  they  be  truly  these  and  none  other ;  and  there- 
after, when  thou  art  made  sure,  they  shall  take  of 
thee  the  raiment,  the  gems,  and  the  Sending  Boat, 
and  come  hither  if  they  may.  And  God  look  to 
the  rest !  But  as  for  the  token  to  be  told  afore- 
said, we  have  determined  that  each  of  us  shall  tell 
thee  privily  what  question  thou  shalt  ask  for  her, 
and  what  answer  thou  must  look  for. 

When  she  had  done  speaking,  each  came  up  to 
Birdalone  and  spake  something  into  her  ear  amidst 
blushes  enough  forsooth.  And  what  they  said  will 
be  seen  hereafter.  Then  again  said  Atra :  Now 
by  this  errand  shall  we  be  well  paid  for  the  care  we 
have  had  of  thee.  It  may  be,  forsooth,  that  thou 
shalt  not  find  our  speech-friends  ;  for  they  may  be 
dead,  or  they  may  deem  us  untrue,  and  may  have 
forsaken  us  and  their  land  ;  and  in  any  such  case 
thou  art  free  of  our  errand ;  but  whatsoever  may 
betide  us,  God  speed  thee  ! 

Then  Viridis  drew  forth  a  basket  from  under  a 
bush,  and  said  :  We  know  not  how  long  thy  voy- 


OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  II5 

age  may  be,  but  some  little  provision  for  the  way 
we  may  at  least  give  thee  :  now  wilt  thou  bear  this 
aboard  thyself,  for  we  dare  not  touch  thy  craft,  nay, 
nor  come  nigh  it,  no  one  of  us.  And  she  set  down 
the  basket  and  cast  her  arms  about  her,  and  kissed 
her  and  wept  over  her ;  and  the  other  twain,  they 
also  kissed  her  lovingly.  Birdalone  wept  even  as 
Viridis,  and  said  :  May  ye  do  well,  who  have  been 
so  kind  to  me  ;  but  now  am  I  both  so  glad  and  so 
sorry,  that  the  voice  of  me  will  not  make  due  words 
for  me.     O  farewell ! 

Therewith  she  took  up  her  basket,  and  turned 
and  went  speedily  to  the  Sending  Boat ;  and  they 
beheld  her  how  she  stepped  aboard  and  bared  her 
arm,  and  drew  blood  from  it  with  the  pin  of  her 
girdle-buckle,  and  therewith  reddened  stem  and 
stern  ;  and  a  pang  of  fear  smote  into  their  hearts 
lest  their  lady  had  banned  it  for  Birdalone  as  for 
them.  But  Birdalone  sat  down  on  the  thwart,  and 
turned  her  face  south,  and  spake  : 

The  red  raven-wine  now 

Hast  thou  drunk,  stern  and  bow  ; 

Awake  then,  awake  ! 

And  the  southward  way  take  : 

The  way  of  the  Wender  forth  over  the  flood. 

For  the  will  of  the  Sender  is  blent  with  the  blood. 

No  cloud  barred  the  gateway  of  the  sun  as  she 
spoke  ;  no  wave  rose  upon  the  bosom  of  the  lake  ; 
no  clatter  nor  tumult  was  there  ;  but  the  Sending 
Boat  stirred,  and  then  shot  out  swiftly  into  the 
wide  water  ;  and  the  sun  arose  as  they  looked, 
and  his  path  of  light  flashed  on  Birdalone's  golden 


Il6     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

gown  for  a  moment,  and  then  it  grew  grey  again, 
and  presently  she  was  gone  from  before  their  eyes. 
So  they  turned  up  into  the  orchard  :  and  now 
was  Viridis  of  good  cheer,  and  Aurea  no  less;  but 
Atra  lagged  behind,  and  as  she  went,  some  passion 
took  her,  she  knew  not  wherefore ;  her  bosom 
swelled,  her  shoulders  heaved  therewith,  and  she 
wept. 


CHAPTER  IX.  HOW  BIRDALONE 
CAME  TO  THE  ISLE  OF  THE  YOUNG 
AND  THE  OLD. 

ALL  went  well  with  Birdalone  when  she  had 
left  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought,  much 
as  it  had  on  her  first  voyage,  save  that  now 
she  was  both  clad  and  victualled,  and  her  heart, 
if  yet  it  harboured  fear,  was  also  full  of  new  and 
strange  hope  ;  and  oft,  even  as  she  sat  there  amidst 
the  waste  of  waters,  she  wondered  what  new  long- 
ing this  was  which  wrought  so  sweet  a  pain  in  her, 
that  it  made  her  cheeks  burn,  and  her  eyes  dim, 
and  her  hands  and  her  limbs  restless.  And  then 
would  she  set  her  mind  to  her  friends  and  their 
errand,  and  would  hope  and  pray  for  them  ;  but 
again  would  she  fall  to  picture  to  herself  what 
manner  of  men  they  were  who  were  so  sore  longed 
for  by  those  three  beauteous  women ;  and  she 
deemed  that  since  they  were  thus  desired,  they 
must  be  fairer  even  than  her  friends  of  the  isle ; 
and  again  the  nameless  longing  overtook  her,  and 
held  her  till  it  wearied  her  into  sleep. 

When  she  awoke  again  the  boat  had  stayed,  and 
she  was  come  aland ;  but  the  dawn  was  not  yet 
come,  and  the  night  was  moonless,  yet  was  there 
light  enough  to  see,  from  the  water  and  the  stars, 
that  the  bows  of  the  boat  v/ere  lying  safe  on  a 
little  sandy  beach.  So  she  stepped  out  and  looked 
around,  and  deemed  she  could  see  great  trees  be- 
fore her,  and  imagined  also  dark  masses  of  she 
knew  not   what.     So   she  walked  warily  up  the 


Il8     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

said  strand  till  she  came  on  to  soft  grass,  and 
smelled  the  scent  of  the  clover  as  her  foot-soles 
crushed  it.  There  she  sat  down,  and  presently 
lay  along  and  went  to  sleep. 

After  a  while  she  awoke,  and  felt  happy  and  well 
at  ease,  and  had  no  will  to  move :  the  sun  was 
shining  brightly,  but  had  not  been  up  long  :  the 
song  of  birds  was  all  about  her,  but  amidst  it  she 
deemed  she  heard  some  speech  of  man,  though  it 
were  not  like  to  what  she  had  heard  in  her  life  be- 
fore. So  she  raised  herself  on  her  elbow,  and 
looked  up  and  saw  a  new  thing,  and  sat  up  now, 
and  beheld  and  wondered. 

For  there  stood  before  her,  gazing  wide-eyed 
on  her,  two  little  children,  some  three  winters  of 
age,  a  man  and  a  woman  as  it  seemed.  The  man- 
child  with  light  and  fine  white-golden  hair,  falling 
straight  down  and  square  over  his  brow,  and  blue- 
grey  eyes  which  were  both  kind  and  merry,  and 
shyly  seeking  as  it  were.  Plump  and  rosy  he  was, 
sturdy  and  stout-limbed.  No  less  fair  was  the 
woman  ;  her  hair  golden-brown,  as  oft  it  is  with 
children  who  grow  up  dark-haired,  and  curling  in 
fair  little  rings  all  over  her  head  ;  her  eyes  were 
big  and  dark  grey  ;  she  was  thinner  than  the  lad, 
and  somewhat  taller. 

These  two  babes  had  between  them  a  milk-white 
she-goat,  and  had  been  playing  with  her,  and  now 
she  turned  her  head  to  this  and  that  one  of  them, 
bleating,  as  if  to  crave  more  of  the  game  ;  but  they 
had  no  eyes  for  her,  but  stood  staring  with  might 
and  main  on  the  new-comer  and  her  shining  golden 
gown. 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  1 19 

Birdalone  laughed  with  joy  when  she  saw  the 
little  ones,  and  a  dim  memory  of  the  days  of  Ut- 
terhay  passed  before  her  :  she  stretched  out  a  hand 
to  them,  and  spake  softly  and  caressingly,  and  the 
little  lad  came  forward  smiling,  and  took  her  hand, 
and  made  as  if  he  would  help  her  up  for  courtesy's 
sake.  She  laughed  on  him,  and  arose  ;  and  when 
she  stood  up,  tall  and  golden,  he  seemed  somewhat 
afeard  of  so  big  a  creature,  but  stood  his  ground 
valiantly.  Then  she  stooped  down  to  him  and 
kissed  him,  and  he  naysaid  her  not,  but  seemed 
rather  glad  when  it  was  over  ;  but  when  Birdalone 
went  to  the  little  maid,  and  kissed  her,  the  child 
clung  to  her  as  if  she  were  her  mother,  and  babbled 
to  her. 

Then  comes  the  lad  to  her,  and  takes  her  hand, 
and  would  draw  her  away,  and  speaks  to  her  in 
his  prattle,  and  she  understood  him  to  mean  that 
she  should  come  with  him  to  see  the  father.  So 
she  went,  wondering  what  should  next  betide  ; 
and  the  little  maiden  went  on  the  other  side  of  her, 
holding  by  a  fold  of  her  skirt.  Forsooth  the  goat 
followed  bleating,  not  well  pleased  to  be  forgotten. 

Now  had  Birdalone  time  to  look  about  her, 
though  the  two  babes  fell  to  prattling  with  her  in 
their  way,  and  she  thought  it  sweet  to  look  down  on 
the  two  little  faces  that  looked  up  to  her  so  pleased 
and  merry. 

She  was  in  a  grassy  plain,  somewhat  over  rough 
and  broken  to  be  called  a  meadow,  and  not  enough 
be-timbered  to  be  called  a  wood  ;  it  rose  up  a  little 
and  slowly  as  they  left  the  water,  but  scarce  so  much 


I20     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

as  one  might  call  it  a  hill  Straight  before  her  on 
the  way  that  they  were  going  went  up  into  the  air 
great  masses  of  grey  stone  builded  by  man's  hand, 
but  looking,  even  from  this  way  off,  ragged  and 
ruinous.  It  may  well  be  thought  that  Birdalone 
wondered  what  things  might  lie  betwixt  the  trees 
.and  the  towers. 

Now  as  they  went  they  came  on  other  goats,  who 
seemed  tame,  and  these  joined  them  to  their  fellow, 
and  suffered  the  younglings  to  play  with  them. 
Moreover  there  were  rabbits  great  plenty  scuttling 
in  and  out  of  the  brakes  and  the  rough  ground  upon 
the  way,  and  the  younglings  beheld  them,  and  the 
little  lad  said,  aft:er  his  fashion :  Why  do  the  rab- 
bits run  away  from  us,  and  the  goats  follow  us  .? 
Now,  sooth  to  say,  Birdalone  scarce  knew  why,  and 
had  no  word  ready  for  the  child ;  but  she  said  at 
last :  Mayhappen  they  will  come  to  me  ;  so  it  was 
once  when  I  dwelt  away  from  here.  Shall  I  go  fetch 
thee  one  ?  The  little  ones  yeasaid  that,  though 
somewhat  shyly  and  doubtfully.  Then  said  Bird- 
alone :  Do  ye,  sweetlings,  abide  me  here,  and  go 
not  away.  They  nodded  their  heads  thereat,  and 
Birdalone  kilted  her  skirts  and  went  her  v/ays  to 
some  broken  bushed  ground,  where  was  a  many 
rabbits  playing  about ;  but  she  went  not  out  of  eye- 
shot of  the  babes.  Before  she  was  well-nigh  to  the 
little  beasts,  she  fell  to  talking  to  them  in  a  low 
sweet  voice,  as  had  been  her  wont  when  she  was 
little ;  and  when  they  heard  it,  those  who  had  not 
scuttled  away  at  first  glance  of  her,  fell  to  creep- 
ing little  short  creeps  one  to  the  other,  as  their 


OF    THE   WONDROUS    ISLES  1 21 

manner  is  when  they  be  alone  together  and  merry  ; 
and  they  suffered  her  to  come  quite  amongst  them, 
and  crept  about  her  feet  while  she  stood,  still  talk- 
ing unto  them.  Then  she  stooped  down  and  took 
up  one  in  her  arms  and  caressed  it,  and  then  laid 
him  down  and  took  up  another,  and  so  with  three 
or  four  of  them  ;  and  she  fell  to  pushing  them,  and 
rolling  them  over  with  her  foot;  then  she  turned 
a  little  away  from  them  toward  the  children,  and 
then  a  little  more,  and  the  rabbits  fell  to  following 
her,  and  she  turned  and  took  up  one  in  her  arms, 
and  went  straight  on  toward  the  children,  but  turn- 
ing and  talking  to  the  rabbits  now  and  again. 

As  to  the  babes,  she  saw  the  goats,  of  whom  were 
now  a  dozen,  or  thereabouts,  standing  together  in 
a  kind  of  ring,  and  the  little  ones  going  from  one 
to  the  other  playing  with  them  happily.  But  pres- 
ently the  lad  turned  and  saw  her  coming  with  her 
tail  of  little  beasts,  and  he  cried  out  a  great  Oh  ! 
and  ran  toward  her  straightway,  and  the  maiden 
after  him  ;  and  he  held  out  his  arms  to  have  the 
rabbit  she  bore,  and  she  gave  it  to  him  smiling,  and 
said  :  Lo  now  !  here  be  pretty  playmates  ;  but  look 
to  it  that  ye  be  soft  and  kind  with  them,  for  they 
are  but  feeble  people.  So  the  younglings  fell  to 
sporting  with  their  new  friends,  and  for  a  little  for- 
gat  both  goats  and  golden  lady  ;  but  the  goats  drew 
nigh,  and  stood  about  them  bleating,  nor  durst  they 
run  at  the  rabbits  to  butt  them,  because  of  Bird- 
alone  and  the  little  ones. 

There  then  stood  the  slim  maiden,  tall  and  gleam- 
ing above  her  little  flock  ;  and  her  heart  was  full  of 


122     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

mirth  and  rest,  and  the  fear  was  all  forgotten.  But 
as  she  looked  up  toward  the  grey  walls,  lo,  new 
tidings  to  hand  !  For  she  saw  an  old  man  with  a 
long  white  beard  slowly  coming  toward  them  :  she 
started  not,  but  abode  his  coming  quietly,  and  as 
he  drew  nigh  she  could  see  of  him  that  he  was  big 
and  stark,  and,  old  as  he  was,  not  yet  bowed  with 
his  many  years.  He  stood  looking  on  this  Queen 
and  her  court  silently  a  while,  and  then  he  spake : 
Such  a  sight  I  looked  not  to  see  on  this  Isle  of  the 
Young  and  the  Old.  She  said :  But  meseemeth 
it  is  full  meet  that  these  younghngs  should  sport 
with  the  creatures.  He  smiled  and  said :  Such  a 
voice  I  looked  not  to  hear  on  the  Isle  of  the  Young 
and  the  Old. 

Birdalone  became  somewhat  troubled,  and  said  : 
Am  I  welcome  here  ?  for  if  I  be  not,  I  will  pray 
thy  leave  to  depart.  He  said :  Thou  art  as  wel- 
come as  the  very  spring,  my  child  ;  and  if  thou  have 
a  mind  to  abide  here,  who  shall  naysay  thee  ?  For 
surely  thou  art  young;  nay,  in  regard  to  me  thou 
art  scarce  older  than  babes.  All  blessings  be  with 
thee.  But  though  thou  art  true  and  kind,  as  is 
clear  to  be  seen  by  thy  playing  with  these  children 
and  the  landward  beasts  in  peace  and  love,  yet 
it  may  be  so  that  thou  hast  brought  hither  some- 
what less  than  peace.  And  he  smiled  upon  her 
strangely. 

She  looked  somewhat  scared  at  his  last  words, 
and  said  :  But  how  so  ?  If  I  might  I  would  bear 
nought  but  peace  and  happiness  to  any  place.  The 
old  carle  laughed  outright  now,  and  said  :   How 


OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  123 

SO,  dear  child  ?  because  ladies  so  sweet  and  love- 
some  as  thou  be  sent  by  love,  and  love  rendeth 
apart  that  which  was  joined  together. 

She  wondered  at  his  word,  and  was  bewildered 
by  it,  but  she  held  her  peace  ;  and  he  said  :  Now 
we  may  talk  hereof  later  on  ;  but  the  matter  to 
hand  now  is  the  quenching  of  thine  hunger ;  for 
I  will  not  ask  thee  whereby  thou  camest,  since  by 
water  thou  needs  must  have  come.  Wherefore 
now  I  bid  thee  to  our  house,  and  these  little  ones 
shall  go  with  us,  and  the  three  of  these  horned 
folk  whom  we  are  wont  to  tether  amidst  the  wrack 
and  ruin  of  what  once  was  fair  ;  the  rest  have  our 
leave  to  depart,  and  these  nibblers  also  ;  for  we 
have  a  potherb  garden  by  our  house,  and  are  fain 
to  keep  the  increase  of  the  same  for  ourselves. 
Birdalone  laughed,  and  shook  her  skirts  at  the 
coneys,  and  they  all  scuttled  away  after  the  man- 
ner of  their  kind.  Thereat  the  little  lad  looked 
downcast  and  well-nigh  tearful,  but  the  maid 
stamped  her  foot,  and  roared  well-favouredly. 

Birdalone  did  her  best  to  solace  her,  and  plucked 
a  bough  from  a  hawthorn  bush  far  above  the 
little  ones'  reach  whereon  was  yet  some  belated 
blossom,  and  gave  it  to  her  and  stilled  her.  But 
the  old  man  picked  out  his  milch-goats  from  the 
flock  (whereof  was  the  white),  and  drave  them 
before  him,  while  the  two  babes  went  on  still  be- 
side Birdalone,  the  little  carle  holding  her  hand 
and  playing  with  the  fingers  thereof,  the  maiden 
sometimes  hanging  on  to  her  gown,  sometimes 
going  loose  and  sporting  about  beside  her. 


124     THE  WATEx^   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

So  came  they  to  where  the  ground  became 
smoother,  and  there  was  a  fair  piece  of  greensward 
in  a  nook  made  by  those  great  walls  and  towers, 
which  sheltered  it  from  the  north.  The  said  walls 
seemed  to  be  the  remnant  of  what  had  once  been 
a  great  house  and  castle  ;  and  up  aloft,  where  was 
now  no  stair  to  come  at  them,  were  chimneys  and 
hearths  here  and  there,  and  windows  with  fair  seats 
in  them,  and  arched  doors  and  carven  pillars,  and 
many  things  beautiful ,  but  now  was  all  ruined 
and  broken,  and  the  house  was  roofless  and  floor- 
less  :  withal  it  was  overgrown  with  ash -trees  and 
quicken-beam,  and  other  berry-trees  and  key- 
trees,  which  had  many  years  ago  seeded  in  the 
rent  walls,  and  now  grew  there  great  and  flourish- 
ing. But  in  the  innermost  nook  of  this  mighty 
remnant,  and  using  for  its  lowly  walls  two  sides 
of  the  ancient  ashlar  ones,  stood  a  cot  builded  not 
over  trimly  of  small  wood,  and  now  much  over- 
grown with  roses  and  woodbine.  In  front  of  it 
was  a  piece  of  garden  ground,  wherein  waxed  pot- 
herbs, and  a  little  deal  of  wheat ;  and  therein  was 
a  goodly  row  of  bee-skeps  ;  and  all  without  it  was 
the  pleasant  greensward  aforesaid,  wherein  stood 
three  great  ancient  oaks,  and  divers  thorns,  which 
also  were  ancient  after  their  kind. 

The  elder  led  his  guest  into  the  cot,  which  had 
but  simple  plenishing  of  stools  and  benches,  and 
a  table  unartful,  and  then  went  to  tether  his  goats 
in  the  ruined  hall  of  the  house,  and  the  children 
must  needs  with  him,  though  Birdalone  had  been 
glad  of  one  of  them  at  least;  but  there  was  no 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  125 

nay,  but  that  they  must  go  see  their  dear  white 
goat  in  her  stall.  Howsoever  all  three  came  back 
again  presently,  the  old  carle  with  a  courteous 
word  in  his  mouth,  and  he  took  Birdalone's  hand, 
and  kissed  it  and  bade  her  welcome  to  his  house, 
as  though  he  had  been  a  great  lord  at  home  in  his 
own  castle.  Therewith  must  the  little  ones  also 
kiss  her  hand  and  be  courteous  ;  and  Birdalone 
suffered  it,  laughing,  and  then  caught  them  up  in 
her  arms,  and  clipped  and  kissed  them  well-favour- 
edly ;  wherewith  belike  they  were  not  over-well 
pleased,  though  the  boy  endured  it  kindly.  There- 
after the  elder  set  forth  his  banquet,  which  was 
simple  enough  :  upland  cheer  of  cream  and  honey, 
and  rough  bread  ;  but  sweet  it  was  to  Birdalone  to 
eat  it  with  good  welcome,  and  the  courtesy  of  the 
old  man. 

When  they  were  done,  they  Vv'ent  out-a-doors, 
and  Birdalone  and  the  old  man  laid  them  down 
under  an  oak-tree,  and  the  children  sported  about 
anigh  them.  Then  spake  Birdalone:  Old  man, 
thou  hast  been  kind  unto  me  ;  but  now  wouldest 
thou  tell  me  about  thee,  what  thou  art,  and  what 
are  these  walls  about  us  here  ?  Said  he  :  I  doubt 
if  I  may  do  so,  this  day  at  least.  But  belike  thou 
shalt  abide  with  us,  and  then  some  day  the  word 
may  come  into  my  mouth.  She  held  her  peace, 
and  into  her  mind  it  came  that  it  would  be  sweet 
to  dwell  there,  and  watch  those  fair  children  wax- 
ing, and  the  lad  growing  up  and  loving  her;  yea, 
even  she  fell  to  telling  up  the  years  which  would 
make  him  a  man,  and  tried  to  see  herself,  how  she 


126     THE  WATER   OF  THE  V/ONDROUS  ISLES 

would  look,  when  the  years  were  worn  thereto. 
Then  she  reddened  at  the  untold  thought,  and 
looked  down  and  was  silent.  But  the  elder  looked 
on  her  anxiously,  and  said :  It  will  be  no  such 
hard  life  for  thee,  for  I  have  still  some  work  in 
me,  and  thou  mayst  do  something  in  spite  of  thy 
slender  and  delicate  fashion.  She  laughed  mer- 
rily, and  said  :  Forsooth,  good  sire,  I  might  do 
somewhat  more  than  something  ;  for  I  am  deft  in 
all  such  work  as  here  ye  need  ;  so  fear  not  but  I 
should  earn  my  livelihood,  and  that  with  joy. 
Merry  days  shall  we  have  then,  said  he. 

But  therewith  her  eye  caught  the  gleam  of  her 
golden  sleeve,  and  she  thought  of  Aurea,  and  her 
heart  smote  her  for  her  errand ;  then  she  laid 
her  hand  on  her  girdle  and  called  to  mind  little 
Viridis,  and  the  glitter  of  the  ring  on  her  finger 
brought  the  image  of  Atra  before  her ;  then  she 
rose  up  and  said  :  Thou  art  kind,  father,  but  I  may 
not ;  I  have  an  errand  ;  this  day  must  I  depart  from 
thee.  He  said :  Thou  hast  broken  my  heart ;  if 
I  were  not  so  old,  I  would  weep.  And  he  hung 
adown  his  head. 

She  stood  before  him  abashed,  as  if  she  had  done 
him  a  wrong.  At  last  he  looked  up  and  said : 
Must  it  be  to-day  ?  Wilt  thou  not  abide  with  us 
night-long,  and  go  thy  ways  in  the  early  morning  ? 

Now  she  scarce  knew  how  to  gainsay  him,  so 
wretched  as  the  old  carle  looked  ;  so  it  came  to  this, 
that  she  yeasaid  the  abiding  till  to-morrow.  Then 
suddenly  he  became  gay  and  merry,  and  he  kissed 
her  hand,  and  fell  to  much  speaking,  telling  tales  of 


OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  127 

little  import  concerning  his  earlier  days.  But  when 
she  asked  him  again  of  how  he  came  there,  and 
what  meant  the  great  ruined  house,  then  he  became 
foolish  and  wandering,  and  might  scarce  answer 
her ;  whereas  otherwise  he  was  a  well-spoken  old 
carle  of  many  words,  and  those  of  the  grandest. 

Then  changed  his  mood  again,  and  he  fell  to 
bewailing  her  departure,  and  how  that  henceforth 
he  should  have  none  to  speak  to  him  with  un- 
derstanding. Then  she  smiled  on  him  and  said: 
But  yonder  babes  will  grow  up  ;  month  by  month 
they  will  be  better  fellows  unto  thee.  Fair  child, 
he  said,  thou  dost  not  know.  My  days  to  come 
are  but  few,  so  that  I  should  see  but  little  of  their 
waxing  in  any  case.  But  furthermore,  wax  they 
will  not ;  such  as  they  be  now,  such  shall  they  be 
till  I  at  least  see  the  last  of  them  and  the  earth. 

Birdalone  wondered  at  this  word,  and  the  place 
seemed  changed  to  her,  yea,  was  grown  somewhat 
dreary ;  but  she  said  to  the  carle :  And  thou,  dost 
thou  change  in  any  wise,  since  these  change  not  ? 
He  laughed  somewhat  grimly,  and  said :  The  old 
that  be  here  change  from  old  to  dead;  how  could 
I  change  to  better  ?  Yea,  the  first  thing  I  had 
to  do  here  was  to  bury  an  old  man.  Quoth  she : 
And  were  there  any  children  here  then  ?  Yea, 
said  he ;  these  same,  or  I  can  see  no  difference  in 
them.  Said  Birdalone  :  And  how  long  ago  is  that  ^ 
And  how  camest  thou  hither?  His  face  became 
foolish,  and  he  gibbered  rather  than  spake :  No,  I 
wot  not ;  no,  no,  no,  not  a  whit,  a  whit.  But  pres- 
ently after  was  he  himself  again,  and  telling  her  a 


128     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

tale  of  a  great  lady  of  the  earl-folk,  a  baron's  dame, 
and  how  dear  he  was  unto  her.  He  lay  yet  on  the 
grass,  and  she  stood  before  him,  and  presently  he 
put  forth  a  hand  to  her  gown-hem  and  drew  her 
to  him  thereby,  and  fell  to  caressing  her  feet ;  and 
Birdalone  was  ashamed  thereat,  and  a  little  angry. 
He  was  nought  abashed,  but  sat  up  and  said  :  Well, 
since  thou  must  needs  depart  to-morrow,  be  we 
merry  to-day.  And  I  pray  thee  talk  much  with 
me,  fair  child,  for  sweet  and  sweet  is  thy  voice  to 
hearken.  Then  he  arose  and  said  :  Now  will  I  fetch 
thee  somewhat  to  eke  the  joy  of  us  both.  And  he 
turned  therewith  and  went  into  the  house. 

Birdalone  stood  there,  and  was  now  perplexed 
and  down-hearted ;  for  now  the  look  of  the  elder 
scarce  liked  her,  and  the  children  began  to  seem 
to  her  as  images,  or  at  the  best  not  more  to  her 
than  the  rabbits  or  the  goats ;  and  she  rued  her 
word  that  she  would  abide  there  the  night  through. 
For  she  said  to  herself:  I  fear  some  trap  or  guile  ; 
is  the  witch  behind  this  also  ?  for  the  old  man  is 
yet  stark,  and  though  he  be  foolish  at  whiles,  yet 
may  wizardry  have  learned  him  some  guile. 

With  that  Cometh  out  the  carle  again,  bearing  a 
little  keg  and  a  mazer  roughly  wrought ;  and  he 
came  to  Birdalone,  and  sat  down,  and  bade  her  sit 
by  him,  and  said  to  her  :  Maybe  I  shall  hear  more 
of  thy  sweet  voice  when  thy  sweet  lips  have  been 
in  the  cup.  Therewith  he  poured  forth  into  the 
mazer,  and  handed  it  to  Birdalone,  and  lo  !  it  was 
clear  and  good  mead.  She  sipped  thereof  daintily, 
and,  to  say  sooth,  was  well-pleased  therewith,  and  it 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  1 29 

Stirred  the  heart  in  her.  But  then  she  gave  back 
the  cup  to  the  elder,  and  would  no  more  of  it.  As 
for  him,  he  drank  what  was  left  in  the  cup,  look- 
ing over  the  rim  thereof  meanwhile  ;  and  then  filled 
himself  another,  and  another,  and  yet  more.  But 
whereas  it  might  have  been  looked  for  that  his 
tongue  should  be  loosened  by  the  good  mead  into 
foolishness  and  gibbering,  he  became  rather  few- 
spoken,  and  more  courteous  and  stately  even  than 
he  had  been  at  the  first.  But  in  the  end,  forsooth, 
he  was  forgetting  Birdalone,  what  she  was,  and  he 
fell  a-talking,  always  with  much  pomp  and  state,  as 
if  to  barons  and  earls,  and  great  ladies  ;  till  suddenly 
his  head  fell  back,  he  turned  over  on  his  face,  and 
all  wit  was  gone  from  him. 

At  first,  then,  Birdalone  was  afraid  that  he  was 
dead,  or  nigh  unto  death,  and  she  knelt  down  and 
raised  his  head,  and  fetched  water  and  cast  it  over 
his  face.  But  when  she  saw  that  he  was  breathing 
not  so  ill,  and  that  the  colour  was  little  changed  in 
his  lips  and  cheeks,  she  knew  that  it  was  but  the 
might  of  the  mead  that  had  overcome  him.  Where- 
fore she  laid  him  so  that  he  was  easy,  and  then 
stood  up  and  looked  about  her,  and  saw  the  chil- 
dren playing  together  a  little  way  off,  and  nought 
else  anigh  her,  save  the  birds  in  the  brake,  or  fly- 
ing on  their  errands  eagerly  from  place  to  place. 
Then,  as  it  were,  without  her  will  being  told  them, 
her  limbs  and  her  feet  turned  her  about  to  the  shore 
where  lay  the  Sending  Boat,  and  she  went  speedily 
but  quietly  thitherward,  her  heart  beating  quick,  for 
fear  lest  somethingshould  yet  stay  her,  and  hereyes 

9 


IJO     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

glancing  from  brake  to  bush,  as  if  she  looked  to  see 
some  enemy,  old  or  new,  come  out  thence. 

So  now  her  will  was  clear  enough  to  her  feet,  and 
they  brought  her  down  to  the  water-side  and  the 
long  strand,  past  which  the  wide  water  lay  windless 
and  gleaming  in  the  hot  afternoon.  Then  lightly 
she  stepped  aboard,  and  awoke  the  Sending  Boat 
with  blood-offering,  and  it  obeyed  her,  and  sped 
swiftly  on  the  way  to  the  southward. 


CHAPTER  X.    BIRDALONE  COMES  TO 
THE  ISLE  OF  THE  QUEENS. 

BI RD  ALON  E  awoke  the  next  morning  while 
the  boat  was  yet  speeding  over  the  water,  and 
the  sun  was  up  :  but  she  was  hard  on  the 
land,  which  sat  low  and  green,  like  a  meadow  ex- 
ceeding fair,  on  the  bosom  of  the  water,  and  many 
goodly  trees  were  sprinkled  about  the  greenland. 
But  from  amidst  the  trees,  no  great  way  from  the 
water's  edge,  rose  a  great  house,  white  and  fair,  as 
if  it  were  new-builded,  and  all  glorious  with  pin- 
nacles, and  tabernacles  set  with  imagery. 

Presently  the  boat's  bows  ran  into  the  reed  and 
rush  at  the  brim  of  the  water,  and  Birdalone  stepped 
ashore  without  more  ado,  and  the  scent  of  the 
meadow-sweet  amongst  which  she  landed  brought 
back  unto  her  the  image  of  Green  Eyot  that  while 
agone. 

But  now  when  she  was  ashore  the  dread  took 
hold  of  her  again,  and  her  knees  trembled  under  her, 
so  that  she  might  scarce  stand,  so  fearful  was  she 
of  walking  into  some  trap  ;  especially  when  she  be- 
held that  goodly  house,  lest  therein  awaited  her 
some  proud  and  cruel  lady,  and  no  kind  damsels 
to  deliver  her. 

She  looked  about  her,  and  saw  in  all  the  fair 
meadow  neither  man  nor  woman,  nor  draught-beast 
nor  milch-beast,  nought  but  the  little  creatures  of 
the  brake  and  the  bent-grass,  which  were  but  as  the 
blossoms  thereof,  and  the  birds  running  in  the  herb- 
age or  singing  amidst  the  tree-boughs. 


13  2     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Then  she  thought  that  she  must  needs  go  for- 
ward, or  belike  her  errand  would  not  speed ;  that 
the  Sending  Boat  might  not  obey  her,  unless  she 
saw  through  the  adventure  to  the  end  ;  so  she  went 
on  toward  the  house  quaking. 

Soon  was  she  at  the  porch  of  the  white  palace,  and 
had  seen  no  man  nor  heard  any  voice  of  men ; 
much  she  marvelled,  despite  her  dread,  at  the  beauty 
of  the  said  house,  and  the  newness  thereof;  for  it 
was  as  one  flower  arisen  out  of  the  earth,  and  every 
part  of  it  made  the  beauty  of  the  other  parts  more 
excellent ;  and  so  new  it  was,  that  it  would  have 
seemed  as  if  the  masons  thereof  had  but  struck 
their  scaffold  yesterday,  save  that  under  the  very 
feet  of  the  walls  the  sweet  garden  flowers  grew  all 
uncrushed. 

Now  comes  Birdalone  through  the  porch  unto 
the  screens  of  the  great  hall ;  and  she  stopped  a 
little  to  recover  her  breath,  that  she  might  be  the 
quieter  and  calmer  amongst  the  great  folk  and 
mighty  whom  she  looked  to  find  therein.  So  she 
gathered  heart ;  but  one  thing  daunted  her,  to  wit, 
that  she  heard  no  sound  come  from  that  great  and 
goodly  hall,  so  that  she  doubted  if  it  were  perchance 
left  desert  by  them  who  had  been  its  lords. 

She  raised  her  hand  to  the  door  of  the  screen, 
and  it  opened  easily  before  her,  and  she  entered, 
and  there  indeed  she  saw  new  tidings.  For  the 
boards  endlong  and  overthwart  were  set,  and 
thereat  were  sitting  a  many  folk,  and  their  hands 
were  reached  out  to  knife  and  to  dish,  and  to  plat- 
ter and  cup  ;  but  such  a  hush  there  was  within,  that 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  133 

the  song  of  the  garden  birds  without  sounded  to 
her  as  loud  as  they  were  the  voices  of  the  children 
of  Adam. 

Next  she  saw  that  all  that  company,  from  the 
great  folk  on  the  dais  down  to  those  who  stood 
about  the  hall  to  do  the  service,  were  women,  one 
and  all ;  not  one  carle  might  she  see  from  where 
she  stood :  lovely  were  they  many  of  them,  and 
none  less  than  comely  ;  their  cheeks  were  bright, 
and  their  eyes  gleamed,  and  their  hair  flowed  down 
fair  of  fashion.  And  she  stood,  and  durst  not  move 
a  long  while,  but  expected  when  someone  would 
speak  a  word,  and  all  should  turn  their  heads  to- 
ward the  new-comer.  But  none  moved  nor  spake. 
And  the  fear  increased  in  her  amidst  that  hush,  and 
weighed  so  heavy  on  her  heart,  that  at  last  she  might 
endure  it  no  longer,  but  fell  swooning  to  the  floor. 

When  she  came  to  herself,  and  the  swoon-dreams 
had  left  her,  she  saw  by  the  changing  of  the  sun 
through  the  hall-windows,  that  she  had  lain  there 
long,  more  nearly  two  hours  than  one  ;  and  at  first 
she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  as  she  crouched 
there,  that  she  might  not  see  the  sight  of  the  silent 
hall,  for  yet  was  it  as  hushed  as  before.  Then 
slowly  she  arose,  and  the  sound  of  her  raiment  and 
her  stirring  feet  was  loud  in  her  ears.  But  when 
she  was  upright  on  her  feet,  she  hardened  her  heart, 
and  went  forth  into  the  hall,  and  no  less  was  her 
wonder  than  erst.  For  when  she  came  close  to  those 
ladies  as  they  sat  at  table,  and  her  raiment  brushed 
the  raiment  of  the  serving-women  as  she  passed  by, 
then  saw  she  how  no  breath  came  from  any  of  these, 


134     THE  WATER  OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

and  that  they  neither  spake  nor  moved,  because 
they  were  dead. 

At  first,  then,  she  thought  to  flee  away  at  once, 
but  again  she  had  mind  of  her  errand,  and  so  went 
up  the  hall,  and  so  forth  on  to  the  dais  ;  and  there 
again,  close  by  the  high  table,  she  saw  new  tidings. 
For  there  was  set  a  bier,  covered  with  gold  and  pall, 
and  on  it  was  laid  a  tall  man,  a  king,  belted  and 
crowned ;  and  beside  the  said  bier,  by  the  head  of 
the  king,  knelt  a  queen  of  exceeding  goodly  body, 
clad  all  in  raiment  of  pearl  and  bawdekin  ;  and  her 
hands  were  clasped  together,  and  her  mouth  was 
drawn,  and  her  brow  knit  with  the  anguish  of  her 
grief.  But  athwart  the  king's  breast  lay  a  naked 
sword  all  bloody ;  and  this  Birdalone  noted,  that 
whereas  the  lady  was  of  skin  and  hue  as  if  she  were 
alive,  the  king  was  yellow  as  wax,  and  his  cheeks 
were  shrunken,  and  his  eyes  had  been  closed  by 
the  wakers  of  the  dead. 

Long  Birdalone  looked  and  wondered;  and  now 
if  her  fear  were  less,  her  sorrow  was  more  for  all 
that  folk  sitting  there  dead  in  their  ancient  state 
and  pomp.  And  was  not  the  thought  clean  out 
of  her  head,  that  yet  they  might  awake  and  chal- 
lenge her,  and  that  she  might  be  made  one  of  that 
silent  company.  Withal  she  felt  her  head  begin- 
ning to  fail  her,  and  she  feared  that  she  might 
swoon  again  and  never  waken  more,  but  lie  for  ever 
beside  that  image  of  the  dead  king. 

So  then  she  refrained  her  both  of  fear  and  sor- 
row, and  walked  speedily  down  the  hall,  looking 
neither  to  the  right  nor  left :  and  she  came  forth 


OF   THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  135 

into  the  pleasance,  but  stayed  there  nought,  so  nigh 
it  seemed  to  that  hushed  company.  Thence  came 
she  forth  into  the  open  meadow,  and  sweet  and 
dear  seemed  its  hot  sunshine  and  noisy  birds  and 
rusthng  leaves.  Nevertheless,  so  great  was  the  tu- 
mult of  her  spirits,  that  once  more  she  grew  faint, 
and  felt  that  she  might  scarce  go  further.  So  she 
dragged  herself  into  the  shade  of  a  thorn-tree,  and 
let  her  body  sink  unto  the  ground,  and  lay  there 
long  unwitting. 


CHAPTER  XL    AND  NOW  SHE  COMES 
TO  THE  ISLE  OF  THE  KINGS. 

WHEN  Birdalone  came  to  herself  it  was 
drawing  toward  the  glooming,  and  she 
rose  up  hastily,  and  went  down  to  the 
Sending  Boat,  for  she  would  not  for  aught  abide 
the  night  in  that  fearful  isle,  lest  the  flock  of  the 
hall  should  come  alive  and  walk  in  the  dusk  and 
the  dark.  She  stepped  aboard  lightly,  and  yielded 
her  blood  to  the  pride  of  that  ferry,  and  it  awoke 
and  bore  her  forth,  and  she  went  through  the  night 
till  she  fell  asleep. 

When  she  awoke  it  was  broad  day  and  the  sun 
just  arising,  and  lo  !  before  her,  some  half  mile  off, 
an  isle  rugged  and  rocky,  and  going  up  steep  from 
the  shore ;  and  then,  held  as  it  were  by  the  fangs 
of  the  rocks  and  pikes  of  the  higher  land,  was  a 
castle,  white,  high,  and  hugely  builded,  though, 
because  of  the  rock-land  belike,  it  spread  not  much 
abroad.  Like  to  the  lovely  house  of  yesterday, 
it  seemed  new-builded ;  and,  little  as  Birdalone 
knew  of  such  matters,  her  heart  told  her  that  this 
new  house  was  fashioned  for  battle. 

She  was  downcast  when  she  saw  the  isle  so 
rugged  and  forbidding,  but  when  the  boat  came 
aland  in  a  stony  bight,  whence  the  ground  went 
up  somewhat  steeply  toward  the  heights,  she  went 
ashore  straightway,  and  toiled  up  toward  the  white 
battlement.  Presently  she  found  herself  in  a  strait 
and  rugged  path  betwixt  two  walls  of  rock,  so  that 
she  lost  sight  of  the  castle  a  while,  till  she  came 


'  OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  137 

out  on  to  a  level  place  which  looked  down  from 
aloft  on  to  the  blue  water,  but  all  over  against  her 
close  at  hand  were  the  great  towers  and  walls.  She 
was  worn  by  the  rough  road,  and  over  helpless 
she  felt  her,  and  all  too  little  to  deal  with  that 
huge  morsel  of  the  world ;  and  her  valiancy  gave 
way,  and  her  trust  in  her  errand.  She  sat  down 
on  a  stone  and  wept  abundantly. 

After  a  while  she  was  amended,  and  she  looked 
up  and  saw  the  huge  hold,  and  said  :  Yea,  but  if 
it  were  less  by  the  half  than  it  is,  it  would  still 
be  big  enough  to  cow  me.  Yet  she  stood  not 
up.  Then  she  put  forth  a  foot  of  her,  and  said 
aloud :  Sorely  hath  this  rough  road  tried  Atra's 
shoon  and  their  goodly  window-work ;  if  they  are 
to  be  known  I  must  be  speedy  on  my  journey  or 
go  barefoot. 

As  she  spoke  she  stood  up,  and  the  sound  of 
her  own  voice  frighted  her,  though  nought  noise- 
less was  the  place  ;  for  the  wind  was  there,  and 
beat  to  and  fro  the  castle  and  the  rock,  and  ran 
baffled  into  every  corner  of  that  market-place  of 
nothing.  For  in  that  garth  was  neither  knight 
nor  squire  nor  sergeant ;  no  spear-head  glittered 
from  the  wall,  no  gleam  of  helm  showed  from  the 
war-swales  ;  no  porter  was  at  the  gate ;  the  draw- 
bridge over  the  deep  ghyll  was  down,  the  portcullis 
was  up,  and  the  great  door  cast  wide  open. 

Birdalone  steeled  her  heart  and  went  forward 
swiftly,  and  over  the  bridge,  and  entered  the  base- 
court,  and  came  without  more  ado  to  the  door  of 
the  great  hall,  and  opened  it  easily,  as  with  the 


138     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

door  of  yesterday,  looking  to  find  another  show 
like  unto  that  one  ;  and  even  so  it  fell  out. 

Forsooth  the  hall  was  nought  light  and  lovely, 
and  gay  with  gold  and  bright  colours,  as  that  other, 
but  beset  with  huge  round  pillars  that  bore  aloft  a 
wide  vault  of  stone,  and  of  stone  were  the  tables ; 
and  the  ballings  that  hung  on  the  wall  were  ter- 
rible pictures  of  battle  and  death,  and  the  fall  of 
cities,  and  towers  a-tumbling  and  houses  a-flaming. 

None  the  less  there  also  were  the  shapes  of  folk 
that  moved  not  nor  spake,  though  not  so  thronged 
was  that  hall  as  the  other  one ;  and  it  seemed  as  if 
men  were  sitting  there  at  a  council  rather  than  a 
feast.  Close  by  Birdalone's  right  hand  as  she  en- 
tered were  standing  in  a  row  along  the  screen  big 
men-at-arms  all  weaponed,  and  their  faces  hidden 
by  their  sallets  ;  and  down  below  the  dais  on  either 
side  of  the  high  table  was  again  a  throng  of  all- 
armed  men  :  and  at  the  high-table  itself,  and  look- 
ing  down  the  hall,  sat  three  crowned  kings,  each 
with  his  drawn  sword  lying  across  his  knees,  and 
three  long-hoary  wise  men  stood  before  them  at 
the  nether  side  of  the  board. 

Birdalone  looked  on  it  all,  striving  with  her  fear  : 
but  yet  more  there  was,  for  she  deemed  that  needs 
must  she  go  through  the  hall  up  to  the  dais,  lest 
the  Sending  Boat  deny  its  obedience.  Up  toward 
the  dais  she  went  then,  passing  by  weaponed  men 
who  sat  as  if  abiding  the  council's  end  at  the  end- 
long tables.  And  now,  though  no  shape  of  man 
there  spake  or  breathed,  yet  sound  lacked  not;  for 
within  the  hall  went  the  wind  as  without,  and  beat 


OF    THE    WONDROUS    ISLES  139 

about  from  wall  to  wall,  and  drave  clang  and  clash 
from  the  weapons  hung  up,  and  waved  the  arras, 
and  fared  moaning  in  the  nooks,  and  hummed  in 
the  vault  above. 

Came  she  up  to  the  dais  then,  and  stood  be- 
side one  of  the  wise  men,  and  looked  on  the  kings, 
and  saw  the  mightiness  which  had  been  in  them, 
and  quaked  before  them.  Then  she  turned  from 
them  and  looked  down  to  the  floor,  and  lo  !  there, 
just  below  the  dais,  lay  a  woman  on  a  golden  bier  ; 
exceeding  fair  had  she  been,  with  long  yellow  hair 
streaming  down  from  her  head ;  but  now  waxen 
white  she  was,  with  ashen  lips  and  sunken  cheeks. 
Clad  was  she  in  raiment  of  purple  and  pall,  but 
the  bosom  of  her  was  bared  on  one  side,  and  therein 
was  the  road  whereby  the  steel  had  fared  which  had 
been  her  bane. 

Now  when  Birdalone  had  gazed  thereon  a  while, 
she  deemed  that  if  she  tarried  there  long  amidst 
those  fierce  men  by  the  dead  woman,  she  should 
lose  her  wit  full  soon,  so  sore  the  fear,  held  back, 
beset  her  now.  Wherefore  she  turned  and  went 
hastily  down  the  hall,  and  out-a-doors,  and  over 
the  bridge,  and  ran  fleet-foot  down  the  rocky  way 
whereby  she  had  come,  till  she  could  run  no  further, 
and  lay  down  under  a  great  stone  breathless  and 
fordone  ;  yet  her  heart  upheld  her  and  suffered  her 
not  to  swoon,  belike  because  she  had  given  her 
limbs  such  hard  work  to  do. 

There  she  lay  awake  and  troubled  for  an  hour 
or  more,  and  then  she  fell  asleep,  and  slept  till  the 
day  was  worn  toward  sunset,  and  nought  med- 


I40     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

died  with  her.  She  arose  and  went  to  her  ship 
somewhat  downhearted,  wondering  how  many  such 
terrors  should  befall  her  ;  nay,  whether  the  Sending 
Boat  would  so  lead  her  that  henceforth  she  should 
happen  on  no  children  of  Adam  but  such  as  were 
dead  images  of  the  living.  Had  all  the  world  died 
since  she  left  the  Isle  of  the  Young  and  the  Old? 

Howsoever,  she  had  nought  to  do  save  to  board 
her  ferry,  and  content  its  greedy  soul  with  her 
blood,  and  drive  it  with  the  spell-words.  And 
thereafter,  when  it  was  speeding  on,  and  the  twi- 
light dusking  apace,  she  looked  aback,  and  seemed 
to  see  the  far-off  woodland  in  the  northern  ort,  and 
the  oak-clad  ridge,  where  she  had  met  her  wood- 
mother  ;  and  then  it  was  as  if  Habundia  were  say- 
ing to  her  :  Meet  again  we  shall.  And  therewith 
straightway  became  life  sweeter  unto  her. 

Deepened  then  the  dusk,  and  became  night,  and 
she  floated  on  through  it,  and  was  asleep  alone  on 
the  bosom  of  the  water. 


CHAPTER  XII.  OF  BIRDALONE, 
HOW  SHE  CAME  UNTO  THE 
ISLE    OF    NOTHING. 

LONG  before  sunrise,  in  the  very  morn-dusk, 
she  awoke  and  found  that  her  ferry  had  taken 
land  again.  Little  might  she  see  what  the 
said  land  was  like ;  so  she  sat  patiently  and  abode 
the  day  in  the  boat ;  but  when  day  was  come,  little 
more  was  to  see  than  erst.  For  flat  was  the  isle, 
and  scarce  raised  above  the  wash  of  the  leeward 
ripple  on  a  fair  day  ;  nor  was  it  either  timbered  or 
bushed  or  grassed,  and,  so  far  as  Birdalone  might 
see,  no  one  foot  of  it  differed  in  aught  from  another. 
Natheless  she  deemed  that  she  was  bound  to  go 
ashore  and  seek  out  the  adventure,  or  spoil  her 
errand  else. 

Out  of  the  boat  she  stepped  then,  and  found  the 
earth  all  paved  of  a  middling  gravel,  and  nought  at 
all  growing  there,  not  even  the  smallest  of  herbs ; 
and  she  stooped  down  and  searched  the  gravel,  and 
found  neither  worm  nor  beetle  therein,  nay  nor  any 
one  of  the  sharp  and  slimy  creatures  which  are  wont 
in  such  ground. 

A  little  further  she  went,  and  yet  a  little  further, 
and  no  change  there  was  in  the  land  ;  and  yet  she 
went  on  and  found  nothing  ;  and  she  wended  her 
ways  southward  by  the  sun,  and  the  day  was 
windless. 

At  last  she  had  gone  a  long  way  and  had  no 
sight  of  water  south  of  the  isle,  nor  had  she  seen 
any  hill,  nay,  not  so  much  as  an  ant-heap,  whence 


142     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

she  might  look  further  around  ;  and  it  seemed  to 
her  that  she  might  go  on  for  ever,  and  reach  the 
heart  of  Nowhitherat  last.  Wherefore  she  thought 
she  would  turn  back  and  depart  this  ugly  isle,  and 
that  no  other  adventure  abided  her  therein.  And 
by  now  it  was  high  noon  ;  and  she  turned  about 
and  took  a  few  steps  on  the  backward  road. 

But  even  therewith  it  seemed  as  if  the  sun,  which 
heretofore  had  been  shining  brightly  in  the  heavens, 
went  out  as  a  burnt-down  candle,  and  all  was  be- 
come dull  grey  over  head,  as  all  under  foot  was  a 
dull  dun.  But  Birdalone  deemed  she  could  fol- 
low a  straight  course  back  again,  and  so  walked  on 
sturdily.  Hour  after  hour  she  went  and  stayed 
not,  but  saw  before  her  no  glimpse  of  the  north- 
ern shore,  and  no  change  in  the  aspect  of  the 
ground  about  her. 

It  had  so  happened  that  a  little  before  she  had 
turned  to  go  back,  she  had  eaten  her  dinner  of  a 
piece  of  bread  and  a  morsel  of  cheese,  and  now  as 
she  stooped  and  peered  on  the  ground,  looking  for 
some  sign  of  the  way,  as  her  foot-prints  going  south, 
and  had  her  eyes  low  anigh  the  earth,  she  saw  some- 
thing white  at  her  feet  in  the  gathering  dusk  (for 
the  day  was  wearing),  and  she  put  her  hand  to  it 
and  lifted  it,  and  found  it  a  crumb  of  bread,  and 
knew  that  it  must  have  come  from  her  dinner  of 
seven  hours  ago,  whereas  till  that  time  her  bread 
had  lain  unbroken  in  her  scrip.  Fear  and  an- 
guish smote  her  therewith,  for  she  saw  that  in  that 
dull  land,  every  piece  whereof  was  like  every  other 
piece,  she  must  have  gone  about  in  a  ring,  and  come 


OF   THE    V/ONDROUS    ISLES  143 

back  again  to  where  she  first  turned  to  make  for 
the  northern  shore. 

Yet  would  she  not  cast  aside  all  hope,  but  clad 
herself  in  her  valiancy.  Forsooth  she  knew  it 
availed  nought  to  try  to  move  on  in  the  twilight ; 
so  she  laid  herself  down  on  that  waste,  and  made 
up  her  mind  to  sleep  if  she  might,  and  abide  the 
new  day  there,  and  then  to  strive  with  the  way  once 
more,  for  belike,  she  thought,  it  may  be  fair  to- 
morrow, and  the  sun  shining.  And  as  she  was  very 
weary  with  tramping  the  waste  all  day,  she  fell  asleep 
at  once,  and  slept  the  short  night  through. 

But  when  she  awoke,  and  saw  what  the  new  day 
was,  her  heart  fell  indeed,  for  now  was  she  encom- 
passed and  shut  in  with  a  thick  dark  mist  (though 
it  seemed  to  be  broad  day),  so  that  had  there  been 
aught  to  see  she  would  not  have  seen  it  her  own 
length  away  from  her.  So  there  she  stood,  hanging 
her  head,  and  striving  to  think ;  but  the  master- 
thought  of  death  drawing  nigh  scattered  all  other 
thoughts,  or  made  them  dim  and  feeble. 

Long  she  stood  there  ;  but  suddenly  something 
came  into  her  mind.  She  set  her  hand  to  the  fair- 
broidered  pouch  which  hung  from  Viridis'  loin- 
girdle,  and  drew  out  thence  flint  and  steel  and  tinder, 
which  matters,  forsooth,  had  served  her  before  in 
the  boat  to  make  fire  withal.  Then  she  set  her 
hand  to  her  head,  and  drew  forth  the  tress  of  hair 
which  Habundia  had  given  her,  and  which  was  coiled 
up  in  the  crown  of  her  own  abundant  locks  which 
decked  her  so  gloriously  ;  she  drew  two  hairs  from 
the  said  tress,  and  held  them  between  her  lips  while 


144     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

she  did  up  the  tress  In  its  place  again,  and  then, 
pale  and  trembling,  fell  to  striking  a  light,  and 
when  she  had  the  tinder  burning,  she  cried  out : 
O  wood-mother,  wood-mother  !  How  then  may 
we  meet  again  as  thou  didst  promise  me,  if  I  die 
here  in  this  empty  waste  ?  O  wood-mother,  if  thou 
mightest  but  come  hither  for  my  deliverance ! 

Then  she  burned  the  hairs  one  after  another, 
and  stood  waiting,  but  nought  befell  a  great  while, 
and  her  heart  sickened,  and  there  she  stood  like  a 
stone. 

But  In  awhile,  lo  !  there  came  as  It  were  a  shadow 
amidst  the  mist,  or  rather  lying  thereon,  faint  and 
colourless,  and  it  was  of  the  shape  of  the  wood- 
mother,  with  girt-up  gown  and  bow  in  hand.  Bird- 
alone  cried  aloud  with  joy,  and  hastened  toward  the 
semblance,  but  came  to  it  no  nigher,  and  still  she 
went,  and  the  semblance  still  escaped  her,  and  she 
followed  on  and  on  ;  and  this  lasted  long,  and  faster 
and  faster  must  she  follow  lest  it  vanish,  and  she 
gathered  her  skirts  Into  her  girdle,  and  fell  to 
running  fleet-foot  after  the  fleeing  shadow,  which 
she  loved  dearly  even  amidst  the  jaws  of  death  ; 
and  all  her  fleetness  of  foot  had  BIrdalone  to  put 
forth  in  following  up  the  chase  ;  but  even  to  die 
in  the  pain  would  she  not  miss  that  dear  shadow. 

But  suddenly,  as  she  ran,  the  mist  was  all  gone 
from  before  her,  the  sun  shone  hot  and  cloudless  ; 
there  was  no  shadow  or  shape  of  Habundia  there, 
nought  but  the  blue  lake  and  the  ugly  lip  of  that 
hideous  desert,  with  the  Sending  Boat  lying  a  half 
score  yards  from  her  feet ;  and  behind  her  stood 


OF    THE   WONDROUS    ISLES  I45 

up,  as  it  were  a  wall,  the  mist  from  out  of  which 
she  had  come. 

Forsooth  Birdalone  was  too  breathless  to  cry  out 
her  joy,  but  her  heart  went  nigh  to  breaking  there- 
with, and  lovely  indeed  to  her  was  the  rippled  water 
and  the  blue  sky ;  and  she  knew  that  her  wood- 
mother  had  sped  a  sending  to  her  help,  and  she 
fell  a-weeping  where  she  stood,  for  love  of  her  wise 
mother,  and  for  longing  to  behold  her :  she  stretched 
out  her  arms  to  the  north  quarter,  and  said  bless- 
ings on  her  in  a  voice  faint  for  weariness.  Then 
she  laid  her  down  on  the  desert,  and  rested  her 
with  sleep,  despite  the  hot  sun,  and  when  she  awoke, 
some  three  hours  thereafter,  all  was  as  before,  save 
that  the  sky  had  now  some  light-flying  clouds,  and 
still  was  the  wall  of  mist  behind  her.  Wherefore 
she  deemed  she  had  yet  time,  and  the  blue  rippling 
water  wooed  her  much-besweated  limbs ;  so  she 
did  off  her  raiment  and  took  the  water,  and  became 
happy  and  unweary  therein.  Then  she  landed  and 
stood  in  the  sun  to  dry  her,  and  so,  strengthened 
v/ith  that  refreshing,  clad  her,  and  went  aboard  and 
did  the  due  rites,  and  sped  over  the  waters,  and 
had  soon  lost  sight  of  that  ugly  blotch  on  the  fair 
face  of  the  Great  Water. 

Here  ends  the  Second  Part  of  the  W^ater 
of  the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  Of  the 
Wondrous  Isles,  and  begins  the  Third  Part  of 
the  said  tale,  which  is  called  Of  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest. 


10 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  THIRD  PART  :  OF  THE 
CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEST. 

CHAPTER  I.  BIRDALONE  COMES  TO 
THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEST. 

EMPTY  was  the  day  to  Birdalone  save  for 
her  thoughts,  and  she  slept  not  a  good  while 
of  the  night.  When  she  awoke  in  the  morn- 
ing there  was  no  land  before  her,  and  she  began 
to  fear  somewhat  that  so  it  might  be  many  days, 
and  that  she  might  have  to  fare  the  water  landless, 
and  perchance  till  she  starved  for  hunger  ;  for  now 
was  there  but  little  victual  left  of  that  which  the 
kind  Viridis  had  given  her.  So  she  wore  the  day 
somewhat  uneasily,  and  by  then  night  fell  had  eaten 
but  little ;  yet  was  that  little  the  last  crumb  and 
gobbet  of  her  store.  Wherefore  it  is  no  wonder 
though  she  were  dismayed  when  she  awoke  early 
on  the  morrow,  and  beheld  nought  before  her  save 
the  landless  water. 

But  about  noon  she  deemed  she  saw  a  little 
cloud  in  the  offing  that  moved  not  as  the  other 
clouds,  and  she  watched  it  closely  at  first,  and  it 
changed  not  any  the  more,  and  she  grew  weary  of 
watching  it  and  strove  to  sleep,  turning  her  head 
to  the  after  part  of  her  ferry ;  and  thus  betwixt 
sleeping  and  waking  she  wore  away  three  hours : 
then  she  stood  up  and  looked  ahead,  and  lo,  the 
white  cloud  had  taken  shape,  and  was  a  white  castle 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        147 

far  away  (for  the  day  was  exceeding  clear),  sitting, 
as  it  seemed,  on  the, very  face  of  the  water.  The 
boat  sped  on  swiftly  thitherward,  so  that  it  was  not 
right  long  ere  Birdalone  beheld  the  green  shore  on 
either  side  of  the  said  castle,  and  at  last,  three  hours 
before  sunset,  she  was  drawing  nigh  thereto,  and 
.  beheld  it  all  clearly,  what  it  was. 

It  was  brand-new,  and  was  fair  enough  builded, 
part  of  stone  and  lime,  part  of  framed  work,  but 
was  but  middling  big.  As  she  drew  nigher  yet, 
she  saw  that  there  were  folk  on  the  walls  of  it,  and 
they  seemed  to  see  her,  for  a  horn  was  winded  from 
the  battlement,  and  folk  were  running  together  to 
somewhither.  And  now  was  Birdalone  come  so 
near,  that  she  saw  the  water-gate  of  the  castle,  and 
folk  coming  out  thereby  on  to  the  landing-place  ; 
and  she  saw  presently,  that  a  very  tall  man  with 
grizzled  hair  stood  foremost  of  them,  and  he  waved 
his  hand  to  her,  and  spake  something,  but  the  wind 
bore  the  words  away  from  her ;  yet  she  seemed  to 
know  that  this  folk  would  do  her  to  wit  that  they 
would  have  none  of  her  ;  and  her  heart  died  within 
her,  so  faint  and  hungry  as  she  was. 

Howsoever  the  ferry  sped  on  its  way  swiftly, 
and  in  a  minute  or  two  had  stayed  itself  at  the 
landing-stair,  whereabout  were  gathered  a  score  of 
men,  some  armed  some  unarmed,  and  they  seemed 
for  the  more  part  to  be  grey-headed  and  past  middle- 
age. 

Birdalone  stood  up  in  her  craft,  and  the  afore- 
said tall  grey  man,  who  was  unarmed,  but  clad  in 
knightly  raiment,  stood  on  the  stair  and  spake  unto 


148     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

her,  and  said  :  Lady,  this  is  an  house  where  women 
enter  never  since  first  the  roof  was  done  thereon, 
which  forsooth  was  but  a  year  ago.  We  will  pray 
thee  therefore  to  turn  thy  boat's  head  away,  and 
seek  some  other  lodging  by  the  water,  either  east- 
ward or  westward. 

Little  knew  Birdalone  of  worldly  courtesy,  or 
she  had  made  him  a  sharp  answer  belike ;  but  she 
only  looked  on  him  ruefully,  and  said  :  Good  war- 
rior, I  am  come  a  long  way,  and  may  not  turn  back 
from  mine  errand ;  and  I  am  now  lacking  victual 
and  hungry,  and  if  ye  help  me  not,  it  is  like  that 
I  shall  die.  Much  lieth  on  mine  errand,  if  ye 
knew  it.  She  was  weeping-ripe,  but  refrained  her 
tears,  though  her  lip  quivered.  She  stretched  out 
her  hands  to  the  greybeard,  and  he  looked  on  her 
and  found  her  exceeding  fair  ;  and  he  deemed  her 
to  be  guileless,  both  because  of  her  simple  speech 
and  sweet  voice,  and  the  goodliness  of  her  face  and 
eyes.  But  he  said :  Lady,  thine  errand  hath  nought 
to  do  with  it,  it  is  thy  womanhood  that  bars  our 
door.  For  all  we  are  bound  by  oath  not  to  suffer 
a  woman  to  abide  in  this  castle  till  our  lords  take 
the  bann  off,  and  bid  us  open  to  women.  She 
smiled  faintly,  and  said  :  If  I  might  but  see  thy 
lords  then,  since  thou  art  not  master  here.  He 
said :  They  are  away,  and  will  not  be  back  till  to- 
morrow morning  ;  and  I  wot  not  the  hour  of  their 
return.  And  yet,  said  he,  I  would  we  might  help 
thee  somewhat.  O  I  pray  thee,  I  pray  thee !  she 
said,  or  mine  errand  will  come  to  nought  after  all. 

Therewith  came  another  man  down  the  stair, 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        149 

and  stood  by  the  old  knight  and  plucked  his  sleeve, 
and  fell  to  talk  with  him  softly.  This  man  was  by 
his  habit  a  religious,  and  was  a  younger  man  than 
the  others,  it  might  be  of  five  and  thirty  winters, 
and  he  was  fair  of  favour.  While  they  spake  to- 
gether Birdalone  sat  her  down  again,  and  was  well- 
nigh  spent. 

At  last  the  old  man  spake  :  Damsel,  he  said,  we 
deem  we  may  suffer  thee  to  enter  the  castle  since 
thy  need  is  so  great,  and  have  a  meal's  meat  at 
our  hands,  and  yet  save  our  oath,  if  thou  depart 
thence  by  the  landward  gate  before  sunset.  Will 
this  serve  thee  ?  Fair  sir,  said  Birdalone,  it  will 
save  my  life  and  mine  errand  ;  I  may  say  no  more 
words  for  my  faintness,  else  would  I  thank  thee. 

She  stood  up  on  her  feet,  and  the  old  man-at- 
arms  reached  out  his  hand  to  her,  and  she  took  it 
and  came  her  ways  up  the  stair,  but  found  herself 
but  feeble.  But  the  priest  (forsooth  he  was  chap- 
lain of  the  castle)  helped  her  on  the  other  side. 
But  when  she  stood  on  the  level  stones  by  the 
water-gate,  she  turned  to  the  old  man  and  said  : 
One  thing  I  will  ask  of  thee.  Is  this  place  one  of 
the  Wondrous  Isles  ?  The  elder  shook  his  head. 
We  know  not  the  Wondrous  Isles,  said  he  ;  this 
castle  is  builded  on  the  mainland.  Her  face  flushed 
for  joy  at  the  word,  and  she  said  :  One  thing  I  will 
crave  of  thee,  to  wit,  that  thou  wilt  leave  my  barge 
lying  here  untouched  till  thy  masters  come  back, 
and  wilt  give  command  that  none  meddle  therewith. 

He  would  have  answered,  but  the  priest  brake 
in,  and  said :  This  will  he  do,  lady,  and  he  is  the 


150     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS   ISLES 

castellan,  and  moreover  he  will  swear  to  obey  thee 
herein.  And  therewith  he  drew  forth  a  cross  with 
God  nailed  thereon,  and  the  castellan  swore  on  it 
with  a  good  will. 

Then  the  priest  drew  Birdalone  on,  and  between 
them  they  brought  her  into  the  great  hall,  and  set 
her  down  in  a  chair  and  propped  her  with  cushions. 
And  when  she  was  thus  at  rest,  she  began  to  weep 
somewhat,  and  the  castellan  and  the  priest  stood 
by  and  comforted  her ;  for  themseemed,  despite 
her  grief,  that  she  had  brought  the  sun  into  their 
house. 

Next  were  victual  brought  unto  her  of  broth 
and  venison,  and  good  wine  and  cates  and  straw- 
berries ;  and  she  was  not  so  famished  but  she 
might  eat  and  drink  with  a  good  will.  But  when 
she  was  done,  and  had  rested  a  little,  the  castellan 
stood  up  and  said :  Lady,  the  sun  is  gone  off  the 
western  windows  now,  and  I  must  save  mine  oath  ; 
but  ere  thou  depart,  I  were  fain  to  hear  thy  voice 
giving  me  pardon  for  my  evil  cheer  and  the  thrust- 
ing of  thee  forth.  And  therewith  he  put  one  knee 
to  the  ground,  and  took  her  hand  and  kissed  it. 
But  Birdalone  was  grown  merry  again,  and  she 
laughed  and  said  :  What  pardon  thou  canst  have 
of  me,  kind  knight,  thou  hast ;  but  now  methinks 
thou  makest  overmuch  of  me,  because  I  am  the 
only  woman  who  hath  come  into  thy  castle.  I 
am  but  a  simple  maiden,  though  mine  errand  be 
not  little. 

Forsooth  she  wondered  that  the  stark  and  gruff 
old  man  was  so  changed  to  her  in  little  space  ;  for 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF   THE   GUEST        I  C  i 

nought  she  knew  as  yet  how  the  sight  of  her  cast 
a  hot  gleed  of  love  into  the  hearts  of  them  who 
beheld  her. 

Now  Birdalone  arose  ;  but  the  castellan  knelt 
at  her  feet,  and  kissed  her  hand  again,  and  again, 
and  yet  again.  Then  he  said  :  Thou  art  gracious 
indeed.  But  methinks  the  father  here  will  lead 
thee  out-a-gates ;  for  he  may  show  thee  a  lair, 
wherein  thou  shalt  be  safe  enough  to-night;  and 
to-morrow  may  bring  new  tidings. 

So  the  priest  made  obeisance  to  her  and  led  her 
down  the  hall,  and  the  castellan's  eyes  were  follow- 
ing them  till  the  screen  hid  them.  The  priest 
left  her  in  the  hall-porch  a  while,  and  went  into 
the  buttery,  and  came  back  with  a  basket  of  meat 
and  drink,  and  they  went  forth  at  the  great  gate 
together,  and  there  was  the  last  of  the  sun  before 
them. 


CHAPTER  II.  OF  BIRDALONE,  AND 
HOW  SHE  RESTED  THE  NIGHT 
THROUGH  IN  A  BOWER  WITHOUT 
THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    QUEST. 

ON  a  fair  smooth  road  went  they  amidst  of 
a  goodly  meadow-land,  wherein  were  little 
copses  here  and  there.  When  they  were 
fairly  out  of  the  gate,  the  priest  reached  for  Bird- 
alone's  hand,  and  she  let  him  take  it  and  lead  her 
along  thereby,  thinking  no  evil  ;  but  he  might 
scarce  speak  for  a  while,  so  great  was  the  stir  in 
his  heart  at  the  touch  of  her  bare  flesh.  But 
Birdalone  spake  and  said  :  Thou  art  kind,  father, 
to  lead  me  on  my  way  thus. 

He  answered  in  a  husky  voice  with  his  eyes 
cast  down,  and  forsooth  set  on  the  feet  of  her :  It 
is  not  far  that  I  am  leading  thee  ;  there  is  a  broken 
cot  by  the  copse  at  the  turn  of  the  road  yonder, 
where  thou  mayst  abide  to-night ;  it  is  better 
lodging  than  none,  evil  as  it  is  for  such  an  one  as 
thou.  Birdalone  laughed  :  Worse  have  I  had, 
said  she,  than  would  be  the  copse  without  the  cot. 
And  she  thought  withal  of  the  prison  in  the  Isle 
of  Increase  Unsought. 

Her  voice  seemed  so  cheery  and  friendly  to  the 
priest,  that  he  shook  off  somewhat  the  moodiness 
of  his  desire,  and  looked  up  and  said  :  I  shall  tell 
thee,  lady,  that  I  suppose  thou  hast  more  errand 
with  my  lords  than  to  crave  lodging  of  them  de- 
spite the  custom  of  the  castle.  Nay,  I  have  an 
inkling  of  what  thine  errand  may  be,  whereof  more 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF    THE   QUEST         153 

anon  ;  but  now  shall  I  tell  thee  what  is  best  for 
thee  to  do  so  as  to  have  speech  of  them  the  soon- 
est. They  have  gone  forth  with  some  of  our  lads 
to  gather  venison,  or  it  may  be  beeves  and  mut- 
tons for  our  victualling,  and  somewhat  of  battle 
may  they  have  had  on  the  way,  for  ill  neighbours 
have  we.  But  if  they  come  back  unfoughten  they 
will  be  wending  this  road,  and  must  needs  pass  by 
thy  copse-side  ;  and  if  thou  be  sleeping  the  noise 
of  them  will  full  surely  awaken  thee.  Then  all 
thou  hast  to  do  is  to  come  forth  and  stand  in  the 
way  before  them,  that  they  may  see  thee  ;  and 
when  once  they  have  seen  thee,  how  may  they 
pass  thee  by  unspoken  with  ? 

I  thank  thee  heartily  for  thy  rede,  said  Birda- 
lone  ;  but  I  would  ask  thee  two  things  :  first,  what 
is  the  name  of  the  castle  behind  us  ?  and  second, 
why  have  ye  the  custom  ot  shutting  the  door 
upon  women  ?  Said  the  priest :  The  castle  is 
called  in  this  country-side,  the  White  Ward  by 
the  Water  ;  but  within  there  we  call  it  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest  ;  and  thus  is  it  called  because  my 
lords  are  seeking  their  loves  whom  they  have  lost ; 
and  they  have  sworn  an  oath  that  no  woman  shall 
enter  therein  till  their  own  loves  have  trodden  its 
floors. 

Rose  the  heart  of  Birdalone  at  that  word,  and 
she  deemed  indeed  that  she  was  come  thither 
whereas  her  she-friends  would  have  had  her.  The 
priest  beheld  her  and  saw  how  her  beauty  was 
eked  by  that  gladness,  and  he  scarce  knew  how  to 
contain  himself,  and  might  speak  no  word  awhile  ; 


154     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

then  he  said  :  Hearken  further  concerning  thy  mat- 
ter ;  if  my  lords  be  tarried,  and  come  not  by  matin- 
song,  then  I  doubt  not  but  the  castellan  will  send 
folk  to  see  to  thee.  He  looked  down  therewith 
and  said  :  I  will  come  to  thee  myself,  and  will 
bring  thee  men-at-arms,  if  need  be.  But  sometime 
to-morrow  morning  my  lords  will  come,  save  mis- 
chief hath  betid,  which  God  forbid.  And  he 
crossed  himself;  then  he  looked  up  and  full  in 
her  face,  and  said  :  But  keep  thine  heart  up  ;  for 
whatsoever  may  betide,  thou  shalt  not  be  left 
uncared  for. 

Said  Birdalone  :  I  see  of  thee  that  thou  art  be- 
come my  good  friend,  and  it  rejoiceth  my  heart ; 
I  shall  be  well  at  ease  to-night  in  thy  cot,  and  to- 
morrow morn  I  shall  be  valiant  to  do  thy  bidding. 

The  sweetness  of  her  speech  so  overcame  him, 
that  he  but  looked  confusedly  on  her,  as  if  he 
scarce  heard  her  ;  and  they  went  on  together  with- 
out more  words,  till  he  said  :  Here  are  we  at  the 
cot,  and  I  will  show  thee  thy  chamber.  So  he 
led  her  to  a  little  thatched  bower,  built  with  walls 
of  wattle-work  daubed  with  clay,  which  stood 
without  the  remnant  of  the  cot :  it  was  clean  and 
dry,  for  the  roof  was  weather-tight  ;  but  there  was 
nought  in  it  at  all  save  a  heap  of  bracken  in  a 
corner. 

There  stood  the  priest,  still  holding  Birdalone's 
hand,  and  spake  not,  but  looked  about,  yet  always 
covertly  on  Birdalone ;  but  in  a  while  he  let  go 
her  hand,  and  seemed  to  wake  up,  and  said  :  This 
it  is  ;  a  sorry  place   enough,   were   it   even   for  a 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        155 

gangrel  body.  Even  so  am  I,  quoth  she  laugh- 
ing ;  and  thou  mayest  look  to  it,  that  herein  I 
shall  rest  full  happily.  Then  he  gave  her  a  horn, 
drawing  it  from  out  of  the  basket  of  victual,  which 
he  now  set  down  on  the  ground  ;  and  he  said  :  If 
thou  shouldst  deem  thee  hard  bestead,  then  wind 
this  horn,  and  we  shall  know  its  voice  up  there  and 
come  to  help  thee.     Now  I  give  thee  good-night. 

She  thanked  him  sweetly,  and  he  went  slowly 
out  of  the  bower,  but  was  scarce  gone  ere  he  came 
back  again,  and  said  :  One  thing  I  may  perchance 
tell  thee  without  drawing  thine  anger  on  my  head  ; 
to  wit,  that  I  it  was  who  said  to  the  castellan  that 
he  should  take  thee  in.  Wilt  thou  say  aught  to 
this  ?  She  said :  I  will  thank  thee  again  and 
again ;  for  it  was  the  saving  of  my  life  and  mine 
errand.  And  clearer  is  it  now  than  ever  that  thou 
art  a  good  friend  unto  me. 

As  she  looked  on  him  and  caressed  him  with 
kind  eyes,  she  saw  that  his  brow  was  knit,  and  his 
face  troubled,  and  she  said  to  him  :  What  ails 
thee  ?  art  thou  wroth  with  me  in  any  wise  .''  O 
no,  said  he  ;  how  should  I  be  wroth  with  thee  ! 
But  there  is  a  thing  I  would  ask  of  thee.  Yea, 
and  what?  said  she.  Pie  said:  Nay,  I  may  not, 
I  may  not.  It  shall  be  for  to-morrow,  or  another 
day.  He  spake  it  looking  down,  and  in  a  broken 
voice;  and  she  wondered  somewhat  at  him,  but 
not  much,  deeming  that  he  was  troubled  by  some- 
thing which  had  nought  to  do  with  her,  and  which 
he  might  refrain  from  thinking  of,  even  before  a 
stranger. 


156     THE   WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

But  presently  he  caught  her  hand  and  kissed  it, 
and  bade  her  good-night  again,  and  then  went 
hastily  out  of  the  bower ;  and  when  he  was  well 
without,  he  muttered,  but  not  so  as  she  might 
hear  him :  Durst  I  have  asked  her,  she  would 
have  suffered  me  to  kiss  her  cheek.  Alas  !  fool 
that  I  was  ! 

Birdalone  turned  then  to  her  bracken  bed,  and 
found  it  sweet  and  clean  ;  and  she  was  at  rest  and 
peace  in  her  mind,  albeit  her  body  was  exceeding 
weary.  She  felt  happy  in  the  little  lonely  cot,  and 
her  heart  had  gone  out  to  the  sweet  meadow-land, 
and  she  loved  it  after  all  the  trouble  of  the  water; 
and  herseemed  that  even  now,  in  the  dusk  a-grow- 
ing  into  dark,  it  loved  and  caressed  her.  So  she 
laid  her  down,  nor  unclad  herself  at  all,  lest  she 
should  have  to  arise  on  a  sudden,  and  show  those 
tokens  of  the  three  damsels  on  her  body. 

A  little  while  she  lay  there  happily,  hearkening 
the  voices  of  the  nightingales  in  the  brake,  and 
then  she  fell  into  a  dreamless  sleep,  unbroken  till 
the  short  night  passed  into  day. 


CHAPTER  III.  HOW  BIRDALONE 
DIGHT  HER  FOR  MEETING  THE 
CHAMPIONS    OF   THE    QUEST. 

IT  was  the  birds  beginning  their  first  song  once 
more  that  awakened  Birdalone  before  the  sun 
was  up  ;  but  she  had  no  will  to  stir  a  while, 
whereas  she  felt  so  happy  and  restful ;  and  that  all 
the  more  when  she  remembered  where  she  was, 
and  told  herself  that  her  errand  was  now  like  to 
be  accomplished  ;  and  she  thought  of  her  friends 
whom  she  had  left  on  the  Isle  of  Increase  Un- 
sought, and  blessed  them  for  their  kindness,  and 
the  love  of  them  was  sweet  to  her  heart,  and 
amidst  such  thoughts  she  fell  asleep  again. 

When  she  awoke  thereafter  there  was  a  flood  of 
sunshine  lying  on  the  meadows,  and  she  sprang  up 
in  haste  lest  she  had  overslept  herself,  but  when 
she  was  come  out  of  the  bower,  she  soon  saw  that 
the  sunbeams  lay  low  on  the  land,  and  that  it  was 
yet  the  first  hour  of  the  sun  ;  so  she  turned  about, 
and  went  through  the  copse  to  the  other  side,  and 
lo  !  a  little  clear  stream  running  before  her.  So 
she  spake  to  herself  softly  and  said  :  Fie  on  it !  I 
was  weary  with  the  boat  and  my  hunger  last  night, 
and  I  went  to  bed  unwashen  ;  and  this  morn  I  am 
weary  for  the  foulness  of  my  unwashen  body.  Un- 
seemly it  were  to  me  to  show  myself  sluttish  before 
these  lords  ;  let  me  find  time  for  a  bath  at  least. 

Therewith  she  went  swiftly  down  to  the  water, 
undoing  her  girdle  and  laces  by  the  way.  She  came 
to  the  stream  and  found  it  running  between  blue- 


158     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

flowering  mouse-ear  and  rushes,  into  a  pool  which 
deepened  from  a  sandy  shallow :  so  anon  her  bor- 
rowed raiment  was  lying  on  the  grassy  lip  of  the 
water,  and  she  was  swimming  and  disporting  her 
in  the  pool,  with  her  hair  loose  and  wavering  over 
her  white  back  like  some  tress  of  the  water-weed. 
Therein  she  durst  not  tarry  long,  but  came  hurry- 
ing out  on  to  the  grass,  and  clad  herself  in  haste. 
But  she  covered  not  her  shoulders  with  the  golden 
gown,  nor  laced  it  over  her  bosom,  so  that  Viridis' 
smock  might  be  the  plainer  to  see :  which  smock 
was  noteworthy,  for  the  breast  thereof  was  broi- 
dered  with  green  boughs,  whence  brake  forth  little 
flames  of  fire,  and  all  so  dainty-wrought  as  if  the 
faery  had  done  it. 

Withal  she  gathered  up  the  gown  into  her  girdle, 
and  let  the  skirt-hem  clear  her  ankles,  so  that 
Atra's  shoon  might  be  seen  at  once  ;  and  they  were 
daintily  dight  with  window-work  and  broidery  of 
gold  and  green  stones,  and  blue.  And  forsooth 
it  was  little  likely  that  any  man  should  stand  be- 
fore her  a  minute  ere  his  eyes  would  seek  to  her 
feet  and  ankles,  so  clean  and  kindly  as  they  were 
fashioned. 

Therewith  she  set  her  hands  to  her  head,  and 
trussed  up  her  hair,  and  bound  it  closely  to  her 
head,  so  that  it  might  hide  no  whit  of  her  bor- 
rowed attire. 

There  she  stood,  with  Aurea's  collar  lying  on 
her  dear  neck,  and  Viridis'  girdle  about  her  shapen 
loins,  and  Atra's  ring  on  her  lovesome  finger.  And 
she  hearkened  a  while  and  heard  no  sound  of  com- 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE   QUEST       159 

ing  men ;  and  there  came  into  her  heart  a  gentle 
fear,  which  grieved  her  not.  Over  the  water  before 
her  hung  an  eglantine  bush,  with  its  many  roses 
either  budding  or  but  just  out.  Birdalone  stole 
thither  softly,  and  said,  smiling :  Nay,  if  I  have 
nothing  that  is  mine  on  my  body,  I  will  take  this 
of  the  maiden's  bath  and  make  it  mine.  And 
therewith  she  plucked  a  spray  of  the  bush  and 
turned  it  into  a  garland  for  her  head ;  and  then  when 
she  had  stood  shyly  a  while  in  that  same  place,  she 
turned  and  went  swiftly  to  her  place  beside  her 
night-harbour,  and  stood  there  hearkening  with 
that  sweet  fear  growing  upon  her,  her  colour  com- 
ing and  going,  and  her  heart  beating  fast. 

Now  the  thought  of  that  kind  priest  who  had 
led  her  to  the  bower  last  night  came  into  her  mind, 
and  she  wondered  why  he  had  been  so  troubled. 
And  she  thought,  would  those  others  be  so  kind 
to  her,  or  would  they  deem  her  an  impudent  wench 
or  a  foolish,  or  pass  her  by  ? 

Forsooth  if  any  had  passed  her  by  it  had  been 
not  that  he  should  miss  seeing  her  beauty,  but  that 
he  should  fear  it,  and  deem  her  some  goddess  of 
the  Gentiles  of  old  time  come  before  him  for  his 
ensnaring. 


CHAPTER  IV.    AND  NOW  SHE  MEETS 
THE  CHAMPIONS. 

NOW,  as  she  stood  hearkening,  she  deemed 
she  heard  something  that  was  not  so  loud 
as  the  sonor  of  the  blackbird  in  the  brake, 
but  further  off  and  longer  voiced  :  and  agam  she 
hearkened  heedfully,  and  the  sound  came  again, 
and  she  deemed  now  that  it  was  the  voice  of  an 
horn.  But  the  third  time  of  her  hearing  it  she 
knew  that  it  was  nought  less  ;  and  at  last  it  grew 
nigher,  and  there  was  mingled  with  it  the  sound 
of  men  shouting  and  the  lowing  of  neat. 

Then  she  stepped  down  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
way,  and  now  she  saw  the  riding-reek  go  up  into 
the  clear  air,  and  she  said  :  Now  are  they  coming 
without  fail,  and  I  must  pluck  up  a  heart ;  for 
surely  these  dear  friends  of  my  friends  shall  neither 
harm  a  poor  maiden  nor  scorn  her. 

Soon  came  the  leading  beasts  from  out  of  the 
dust-cloud,  and  behind  them  was  the  glitter  of 
spear-heads  ;  and  then  presently  was  a  herd  of  neat 
shambling  and  jostling  along  the  road,  and  after- 
them  a  score  or  so  of  spearmen  in  jack  and  sallet, 
who,  forsooth,  turned  to  look  on  Birdalone  as  they 
passed  by,  and  spake  here  and  there  a  word  or  two, 
laughing  and  pointing  to  her,  but  stayed  not ;  and 
all  went  on  straight  to  the  castle. 

Thereafter  was  a  void,  and  then  came  riding 
leisurely  another  score  of  weaponed  men,  whereof 
some  in  white  armour ;  and  amongst  them  were  five 
sumpter  horses  laden  with  carcasses  of  venison. 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        i6l 

And  all  these  also  went  by  and  stayed  not,  though 
the  most  of  them  gazed  on  Birdalone  hard  enough. 

Last  of  all  came  three  knights  riding,  one  with 
a  gold  surcoat  over  his  armour,  and  thereon  a  cleft 
heart  of  red  ;  the  second  with  a  green  surcoat,  and 
on  the  same  a  chief  of  silver  with  green  boughs 
thereon,  their  ends  a-flaming ;  but  the  third  bore 
a  black  surcoat  besprinkled  with  silver  tears.  And 
all  these  three  rode  bare-headed,  save  that  the  Black 
Knight  bore  an  oak-wreath  on  the  head. 

Now  did  Birdalone  take  to  her  valiancy,  and  she 
stepped  out  into  the  road  till  she  was  but  a  ten  paces 
from  those  men,  who  reined  up  when  they  beheld 
her;  and  she  said  in  a  clear  voice  :  Abide,  warriors  1 
for  if  ye  be  what  I  deem  you,  I  have  an  errand  unto 
you. 

Scarce  were  the  words  out  of  her  mouth,  ere  all 
three  had  leapt  off  their  horses,  and  the  Golden 
Knight  came  up  to  her,  and  laid  his  hand  upon 
her  side,  and  spake  eagerly  and  said  :  Where  is 
she,  whence  thou  gattest  this  gown  of  good  web  ? 
And  thou,  said  she,  art  thou  Baudoin  the  Golden 
Knight  ?  But  he  set  his  hand  to  the  collar  on  her 
neck,  and  touched  her  skin  withal,  and  said  :  This, 
was  she  alive  when  thou  camest  by  it  ?  She  said  : 
If  thou  be  Baudoin  the  Golden  Knight,  I  have  an 
errand  to  thee.  I  am  he,  said  the  knight ;  O  tell 
me,  tell  me,  is  she  dead  ^  Said  Birdalone  :  Aurea 
was  alive  when  last  I  saw  her,  and  mine  errand  is 
from  her  to  thee,  if  thou  be  verily  her  lover.  Now 
with  this  word  I  pray  thee  to  be  content  a  while, 
said  she,  smiling  kindly  upon  him,  for  needs  must 


II 


1 62     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

I  do  mine  errand  in  such  wise  as  I  was  bidden. 
And  thou  seest  also  that  thy  friends  would  have  a 
word  of  me. 

Forsooth,  they  were  thrusting  in  on  her,  and  the 
Green  Knight  gat  a  hold  of  her  left  wrist  in  his  left 
hand,  and  his  right  was  on  her  shoulder,  and  his 
bright  face  close  to  her  bosom  whereon  lay  Viridis' 
smock ;  and  thereat  she  shrank  aback  somewhat, 
but  said  :  Sir,  it  is  sooth  that  the  smock  is  for  thee 
when  thou  hast  answered  me  a  question  or  two. 
Meanwhile  I  pray  thee  forbear  a  Httle  ;  for,  as  I 
trow,  all  is  well,  and  thou  shalt  see  my  dear  friend 
Viridis  again. 

He  withdrew  him  a  little,  flushed  and  shamefaced. 
He  was  a  young  man  exceeding  beauteous,  clear- 
skinned  and  grey-eyed,  with  curly  golden  hair,  and 
he  bore  his  armour  as  though  it  were  silken  cloth. 
Birdalone  looked  upon  him  kindly  though  shyly, 
and  was  glad  to  the  heart's  root  that  Viridis  had  so 
lovely  a  man  to  her  darling.  As  for  the  Golden 
Knight,  as  Birdalone  might  see  now,  he  stood  a  little 
aloof;  he  was  a  very  goodly  man  of  some  five  and 
thirty  winters ;  tall  he  was,  broad-shouldered  and 
thin-flanked,  black-haired,  with  somewhat  heavy 
eyebrows,  and  fierce  hawk-eyes ;  a  man  terrible  of 
aspect,  when  one  first  beheld  him. 

Now  when  the  Black  Squire  had  hearkened 
Birdalone's  word  concerning  Viridis,  he  threw  him- 
self down  on  the  ground  before  her,  and  fell  to 
kissing  her  feet ;  or,  if  you  will,  Atra's  shoon  which 
covered  them.  When  she  drew  back  a  little,  he  rose 
on  one  knee  and  looked  up  at  her  with  an  eager 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    QUEST        163 

face,  and  she  said :  To  thee  also  I  have  an  errand 
from  Atra,  thy  speech-friend,  if  thou  be  Arthur  the 
Black  Squire.  He  spake  not,  but  still  gazed  on 
her  till  she  reddened.  She  knew  not  whether  to 
deem  him  less  goodly  than  the  other  twain.  He 
also  was  a  young  man  of  not  over  five  and  twenty 
years,  slim  and  lithe,  with  much  brown  hair ;  his 
face  tanned  so  dark  that  his  eyes  gleamed  light 
from  amidst  it ;  his  chin  was  round  and  cloven,  his 
mouth  and  nose  excellently  fashioned  ;  little  hair 
he  had  upon  his  face,  his  cheeks  were  somewhat 
more  hollow  than  round,  Birdalone  noted  of  his 
bare  hands,  which  were  as  brown  as  his  face,  that 
they  were  very  trim  and  shapely. 

Now  he  rose  to  his  feet,  and  the  three  stood  to- 
gether and  gazed  on  her ;  as  how  might  they  do 
otherwise  ?  Birdalone  hung  her  head,  and  knew 
not  what  next  to  do  or  say.  But  she  thought 
within  herself,  would  these  three  men  have  been  as 
kind  to  her  as  her  three  friends  of  the  Isle,  had  she 
happened  on  them  in  like  case  as  she  was  that  time  ? 
And  she  settled  with  herself  that  they  would  have 
been  no  less  kind. 

Now  spake  the  Golden  Knight,  and  said  :  Will 
the  kind  maiden  do  her  errand  to  us  here  and  now  ? 
for  we  be  eager  and  worn  with  trouble,  Birdalone 
looked  adown  and  was  somewhat  confused.  Fair 
sirs,  said  she,  I  will  do  your  will  herein. 

But  the  Black  Squire  looked  on  her  and  saw  that 
she  was  troubled,  and  he  said  :  Your  pardon,  fair 
fellows,  but  is  it  not  so  that  we  have  an  house  some- 
what anigh,  not  ill  purveyed  of  many  things  ?    By 


164    THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

your  leave  I  would  entreat  this  kind  and  dear  lady 
to  honour  us  so  much  as  to  enter  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest  with  us,  and  abide  there  so  long  as  she  will ; 
and  therein  may  she  tell  us  all  her  errand  at  her 
leisure  ;  and  already  we  may  see  and  know,  that  it 
may  not  be  aught  save  a  joyous  one. 

Then  spake  the  Golden  Knight,  and  said  :  I  will 
ask  the  lady  to  pardon  me,  and  will  now  join  my 
prayer  to  thine,  brother,  that  she  come  home  with 
us.  Lady,  he  said,  wilt  thou  not  pardon  me,  that 
in  the  eager  desire  to  hear  tidings  of  my  speech- 
friend  I  forgat  all  else. 

And  therewithal  he  knelt  before  her,  and  took 
her  hand  and  kissed  it ;  and  for  all  his  fierce  eyes 
and  his  warrior's  mien,  she  deemed  him  kind  and 
friendly.  Then  needs  must  the  Green  Knight  kneel 
and  kiss  also,  though  he  had  no  pardon  to  crave ; 
but  a  fair  sweet  lad  she  thought  him,  and  again  her 
heart  swelled  with  joy  to  think  that  her  friend  Viri- 
dis  had  so  dear  a  speech-friend  to  long  for  her. 

Then  came  the  turn  of  the  Black  Squire,  and  by 
then  were  the  two  others  turned  away  a  little  toward 
their  horses ;  and  he  knelt  down  on  both  knees 
before  Birdalone  and  took  her  right  arm  above  the 
wrist,  and  looked  at  the  hand  and  kissed  it  as  if  it 
were  a  relic,  but  stood  not  up  ;  and  she  stood  bend- 
ing over  him,  and  a  new  sweetness  entered  into  her, 
the  like  of  which  she  had  never  felt.  But  as  for  the 
Black  Squire,  it  seemed  that  one  hand  would  not 
suffice  him,  and  he  took  her  left  hand  and  fell  to 
kissing  it,  and  then  both  the  hands  together  all  over 
the  backs  of  them,  and  then  the  palms  thereof,  and 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    OUEST        165 

he  buried  his  face  in  the  two  palms,  and  held  them 
to  his  cheeks  ;  and  the  dear  hands  suffered  it  all,  and 
consented  to  the  embracing  of  his  cheeks.  But 
Birdalone  deemed  that  this  was  the  kindest  and 
sweetest  of  the  three  kind  warriors,  and  sorry  she 
was  when  he  let  go  her  hands  and  stood  up. 

His  face  was  flushed,  but  his  speech  calm,  as  he 
spake  so  that  the  other  knights  might  hear  him  : 
Now  will  we  straight  to  the  castle,  lady,  and  we  will 
ask  thee  which  of  us  three  thou  wilt  honour  by  rid- 
ing his  horse  there  ;  shall  it  be  Baudoin's  bright 
bay,  or  Hugh's  dapple-grey,  or  my  red  roan  ?  And 
therewith  he  took  her  by  the  hand  and  led  her 
toward  the  horses.  But  she  laughed,  and  turning 
a  little,  pointed  to  the  castle,  and  said  :  Nay,  sweet 
lords,  but  I  will  fare  afoot,  such  a  litde  way  as  it  is, 
and  I  all  unwont  to  the  saddle. 

Spake  the  Green  Knight :  If  that  be  so,  lady, 
then  shall  we  three  walk  afoot  with  thee.  Nay, 
nay,  she  said ;  I  have  nought  to  carry  but  myself, 
but  ye  have  your  byrnies  and  your  other  armour, 
which  were  heavy  for  you  to  drag  on  afoot,  even  a 
little  way.  Moreover,  I  were  fain  to  see  you  mount 
your  horses,  and  ride  and  run  about  the  meadow 
with  tossing  manes  and  flashing  swords,  while  I 
trudge  quietly  toward  the  gate  ;  for  such  things,  and 
so  beauteous,  are  all  new  unto  me,  as  ye  shall  learn 
presently  when  I  tell  you  my  story.  Do  so  much 
to  pleasure  me,  kind  knights. 

The  tall  Baudoin  nodded  to  her,  smiling  kindly, 
as  much  as  to  say  that  he  thought  well  of  her  desire. 
But  the  Green  Knight  ran  to  his  horse  with  a  glad 


1 66     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

shout,  and  anon  was  in  the  saddle  with  his  bright 
sword  in  his  fist ;  then  he  spurred,  and  went  a- 
gallop  hither  and  thither  over  the  mead,  making 
his  horse  turn  short  and  bound,  and  playing  many- 
tricks  of  the  tilt-yard,  and  crying,  A  Hugh,  A 
Hugh,  for  the  Green  Gown  !  The  Golden  Knight 
was  slower  and  more  staid,  but  in  manywise  he 
showed  his  war-deftness,  riding  after  Hugh  as  if  he 
would  fall  on  him,  and  staying  his  way  just  as  it 
became  perilous  ;  and  he  cried,  Baudoin,  Baudoin, 
for  Gold-sleeves  !  And  all  this  seemed  to  Birdalone 
both  terrible  and  lovely. 

But  for  the  Black  Squire,  he  was  slow  to  let  loose 
Birdalone's  hand ;  but  thereafter  he  was  speedy  to 
vault  into  his  saddle,  and  he  made  courses  over  the 
meadow,  but  ever  came  back  to  Birdalone  as  she 
went  her  ways,  riding  round  and  round  her,  and 
tossing  his  sword  into  the  air  the  while  and  catch- 
ing it  as  it  fell.  And  no  less  lovely  did  this  seem 
to  Birdalone,  and  she  smiled  on  him  and  waved  her 
hand  to  him. 

Going  slowly  in  this  wise,  she  came  at  last  to  the 
castle  gate ;  and  now  had  all  those  three  out-gone 
her  and  stood  afoot  in  the  wicket  to  welcome  her, 
and  the  Golden  Knight,  who  was  the  oldest  of  the 
three,  was  the  speaker  of  the  welcome. 

Over  the  threshold  of  the  Castle  of  the  Quest 
went  Birdalone's  feet  then,  and  she  was  grown  so 
happy  as  she  had  never  deemed  she  should  be  all 
her  life  long. 


CHAPTER  V.  BIRDALONE  HAS  TRUE 
TOKENS  FROM  THE  CHAMPIONS  OF 
THE  OUEST. 

NOW  they  brought  Birdalone  into  a  very  fair 
chamber,  where  was  presently  everything 
she  might  need,  save  a  tiring  woman,  which, 
forsooth,  was  no  lack  unto  her,  since  never  had  she 
had  any  to  help  her  array  her  body.  So  she  did 
what  she  might  to  make  herself  the  trimmer  ;  and 
in  a  while  came  two  fair  swains  of  service,  who 
brought  her  in  all  honour  into  the  great  hall,  where 
were  the  three  lords  abiding  her.  There  were  they 
served  well  and  plenteously,  and  fair  was  the  con- 
verse between  them  ;  and  in  especial  was  the  talk 
of  Arthur  the  Black  Squire  goodly  and  wise  and 
cheery, and  well-measured;  and  the  Green  Knight's 
speech  merry  and  kind,  as  of  an  happy  child  ;  and 
the  Golden  Knight  spake  ever  free  and  kindly, 
though  not  of  many  words  was  he.  And  who  was 
happy  if  Birdalone  were  not  ? 

But  when  they  had  eaten  and  washed  their  hands, 
then  spake  the  Golden  Knight :  Dear  maiden,  now 
are  we  ready  to  hear  the  innermost  of  thine  errand, 
all  we  together,  if  thou  wilt. 

Birdalone  smiled  and  reddened  withal,  as  she 
said  :  Fair  lords,  I  doubt  not  but  ye  are  even  they 
unto  whom  I  was  sent,  but  they  who  sent  me,  and 
who  saved  me  from  death  and  worse,  bade  me  do 
mine  errand  in  such  a  way,  that  I  should  speak 
with  each  one  of  you  privily,  and  that  for  a  token 
each  should  tell  me  a  thing  known  but  to  him  and 


1 68     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

his  love,  and  to  me  unto  whom  she  hath  told  it. 
Now  am  I  all  ready  to  do  mine  errand  thus,  and 
no  other  wise. 

Laughed  they  now,  and  were  merry,  and  the 
Green  Knight  blushed  like  a  maiden ;  forsooth  like 
to  his  very  speech-friend  Viridis.  But  the  Black 
Squire  said  :  Fair  fellows,  get  we  all  into  the  plea- 
sance  this  fair  morn,  and  sit  there  on  the  grass,  and 
our  sweet  lady  shall  take  us  one  after  other  into 
the  plashed  alley,  and  have  the  tokens  of  us. 

Even  so  they  did,  and  went  into  the  pleasance, 
which  was  a  goodly  little  garth  south  of  the  castle, 
grassed,  and  set  thick  with  roses  and  lilies  and  gilly- 
flowers, and  other  fragrant  flowers.  There  then 
they  sat  on  the  daisied  greensward,  the  three  lords 
together,  and  Birdalone  over  against  them,  and 
they  three  watched  her  beauty  and  loveliness  and 
wondered  thereat. 

But  she  said  :  Now  it  comes  to  the  very  point 
of  mine  errand  ;  wherefore  I  bid  thee,  Baudoin  the 
Golden  Knight,  to  come  apart  with  me  and  an- 
swer to  my  questions,  so  that  I  may  know  surely 
that  I  am  doing  mine  errand  aright. 

Therewith  she  arose  to  her  feet,  and  he  also,  and 
he  led  her  into  the  plashed  alley,  out  of  earshot  of 
the  other  twain,  who  lay  upon  the  grass  biding  their 
turn  with  but  little  patience. 

But  when  those  two  were  in  the  deep  shade  of 
the  alley,  Birdalone  said  :  Thou  must  know,  Sir 
Golden  Knight,  that  the  three  lovers  of  you  three 
were  good  to  me  in  my  need,  and  clad  my  naked- 
ness from  their  very  bodies,  but  this  raiment  they 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    QUEST        169 

lent  me,  and  gave  it  not ;  for  they  bade  me  give  it 
up  piece  by  piece  each  unto  the  one  who  had  given 
it  to  his  love,  whom  I  should  know  by  the  token 
that  he  should  tell  truly  the  tale  of  its  giving. 
Now,  fair  sir,  I  know  well,  for  I  have  been  told, 
what  was  the  tale  of  thy  giving  this  golden  gown 
to  Aurea,  and  that  same  tale  shalt  thou  now  tell  me, 
and  if  thou  tell  it  aright,  then  is  the  gown  thine. 
Begin,  then,  without  more  tarrying. 

Lady,  said  the  knight,  thus  it  was  :  Aurea,  my 
sweetline,  abode  with  an  ancient  dame,  a  kinswoman 
of  hers,  who  was  but  scantly  kind  to  her  ;  and  on 
a  day  when  we  had  met  privily,  and  were  talking 
together,  my  love  lamented  the  niggard  ways  of  her 
said  kinswoman,  and  told  how  she  had  no  goodly 
gown  to  make  her  fair  when  feasts  were  toward  ; 
but  I  laughed  at  her,  and  told  her  that  so  clad  as 
she  was  (and  her  attire  was  verily  but  simple)  she 
was  fairer  than  any  other ;  and  then,  as  ye  may  wot, 
there  was  kissing  and  clipping  between  us  ;  but  at 
last,  as  from  the  first  I  meant  it,  I  promised  her  I 
would  purvey  her  such  a  gown  as  no  lady  should 
go  with  a  better  in  all  the  country-side  ;  but  I  said 
that  in  return  I  must  have  the  gown  she  Vv^ent  in 
then,  which  had  so  long  embraced  her  body  and 
been  strained  so  close  to  her  body  and  her  sides,  and 
was  as  it  were  a  part  of  her.  That  she  promised 
me  with  kisses,  and  I  went  away  as  merry  as  a  bird. 
Straightway  thereafter  I  did  do  make  this  very 
gown,  which  thou  bearest,  dear  maiden,  and  on  the 
appointed  day  she  came  out  to  me  unto  the  same 
place  clad  as  she  was  before  ;   but  the  new  gown  I 


lyo     THE   WATER   OF   THE   WONDROUS   JSLES 

had  with  me.  Hard  by  our  trysting-place  was  a 
hazel-copse  thick  enow,  for  it  was  midsummer,  and 
she  said  she  would  go  thereinto  and  shift  gowns, 
and  bear  me  out  thence  the  gift  of  the  old  clout 
(so  she  called  it,  laughing  merrily).  But  I  said  : 
Nay,  I  would  go  into  the  copse  with  her  to  guard 
her  from  evil  things,  beasts  or  men ;  and  withal  to 
see  her  do  off  the  old  gown,  that  I  might  know  be- 
fore I  wedded  her  whatlike  stuffing  and  padding 
went  to  make  the  grace  of  her  flanks  and  her  hips. 
And  again  was  she  merry,  and  she  said  :  Come, 
then,  thou  Thomas  unbelieving,  and  see  the  side 
of  me.  So  we  went  into  that  cover  together,  and 
she  did  off  her  gown  before  mine  eyes,  and  stood 
there  in  her  white  coat  with  her  arms  bare,  and  her 
shoulders  and  bosom  little  covered,  and  she  was 
as  lovely  as  a  woman  of  the  faery.  Then  I  made 
no  prayer  unto  her  for  leave,  but  took  my  arms 
about  her,  and  kissed  her  arms  and  shoulders  and 
bosom  all  she  would  suffer  me,  for  I  was  mad  with 
love  of  her  naked  flesh.  Then  she  did  on  this 
golden  gown,  and  departed  when  she  had  given  me 
the  old  clout  aforesaid,  and  I  went  away  with  it, 
scarce  feeling  the  ground  beneath  my  feet ;  and  I 
set  the  dear  gown  in  a  fair  little  coffer,  and  here  in 
this  castle  I  have  it  now,  and  many  times  I  take  it 
forth  and  kiss  it  and  lay  my  head  upon  it.  Now 
this  is  a  simple  tale,  lady,  and  I  am  ashamed  that  I 
have  made  it  so  long  for  thee.  And  yet  I  know 
not;  for  thou  seemest  to  me  so  kind  and  loving  and 
true,  that  I  am  fain  that  thou  shouldest  know  how 
sorely  I  love  thy  friend  and  mine. 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST         17 1 

Birdalone  deemed  Baudoin  a  good  man  indeed, 
and  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes  as  she  answered 
and  said :  True  is  thy  tale,  dear  friend,  and  I  have 
deemed  it  rather  short  than  long.  I  see  well  that 
thou  art  Aurea's  very  lover  ;  and  it  joys  me  to 
think  that  thou,  O  terrible  champion,  art  yet  so 
tender  and  true.  Now  is  the  golden  gown  thine, 
but  I  will  pray  thee  to  lend  it  me  a  little  longer. 
But  this  jewel  shalt  thou  have  from  my  neck  here 
and  now  ;  and  thou  knowest  whence  it  came,  thine 
Aurea's  neck  forsooth. 

Therewith  she  betook  it  him,  and  he  held  it  in 
his  hand  doubtfully  a  while,  and  then  he  said  : 
Dear  maiden,  I  thank  thee,  but  I  will,  take  this 
collar,  and  lay  it  in  my  casket,  and  be  glad  thereof; 
and  that  the  more,  as,  now  I  look  on  thee,  I  see 
nought  missing  from  the  loveliness  of  thine  own 
neck. 

Go  to  thy  fellows  now,  said  Birdalone,  and  send 
me  the  Green  Knight,  the  goodly  lad.  So  went 
he,  and  presently  came  Hugh  thither  merry  and 
smiling,  and  said :  Thou  hast  been  long  about  the 
first  token,  sweet  mistress  ;  I  fear  me  I  shall  make 
no  such  goodly  story  as  hath  Baudoin.  And  yet, 
said  she,  Viridis'  tale  was  the  longest  of  all.  I 
doubt  thou  mayst  fail  in  the  token.  And  she 
laughed ;  and  he  no  less,  and  took  her  by  the 
shoulders,  and  kissed  her  cheek  frankly,  and  in 
such  wise  that  she  feared  him  nought,  and  said  : 
Now  that  is  to  pay  thee  for  thy  gibe  ;  what  wouldst 
thou  have  of  me  ?  Said  Birdalone  :  I  would  have 
thee  tell  me  how  it  was  that  Viridis  came  by  the 


172     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

smock  with  the  green  boughs  aflame,  which  now 
I  bear  upon  me. 

Hearken,  darling  lady,  said  he  :  On  a  day  Viri- 
dis  and  I  were  alone  in  the  meadow,  and  so  happy, 
that  we  might  find  nought  to  do  save  to  fall  into 
strife  together ;  and  I  said  it  to  her,  that  she  loved 
me  not  as  well  as  I  loved  her ;  which,  by  the  way, 
was  no  less  than  a  lie,  for  of  all  things  living  she 
is  the  most  loving,  and  when  we  be  together  she 
knoweth  not  how  to  make  enough  of  me.  Well, 
we  fell  to  wrangling  after  the  manner  of  lovers,  till 
I,  having  nothing  else  to  say,  bade  her  remember 
that  since  we  had  first  come  to  love  each  other,  I 
had  given  her  many  things,  and  she  had  given  me 
nothing.  Lo,  then  !  my  dear,  what  an  ill-condi- 
tioned lad  was  I.  But,  little  as  I  meant  it,  she 
took  it  all  amiss,  and  leapt  up,  and  fell  to  running 
back  home  over  the  meadow ;  thou  mayst  think 
how  easily  I  caught  up  with  her,  and  how  little 
loth  she  was  to  be  dragged  back  by  the  shoulders. 
So  when  we  were  sitting  again  under  the  thorn- 
bush,  we  had  well-nigh  done  our  wrangle  ;  but  she 
unlaced  her  gown  and  drew  down  a  corner  thereof, 
to  show  me  her  shoulder,  how  I  had  hurt  it  e'en 
now;  and  forsooth  some  little  mark  there  was  on 
the  rose-leaf  skin  ;  and  that  made  good  time  for 
kissing  again,  as  ye  may  well  wot.  Then  she  said 
unto  me :  And  how  may  I,  a  poor  damsel,  give 
thee  gifts,  and  my  kindred  all  greedy  about  me  ? 
Yet  would  1  give  thee  a  gift,  such  as  I  may,  if  I 
but  knew  what  thou  wouldst  take.  Now  my  heart 
was  afire  with  that  kissing  of  her  shoulder,  and  I 


OF    THE   CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        1 73 

said  that  I  would  have  that  very  same  smock  from 
her  body,  which  then  she  bore,  and  that  thereof  I 
should  deem  that  I  had  a  rich  gift  indeed.  What ! 
said  she,  and  wouldst  thou  have  it  here  and  now  ? 
And  indeed  I  think  she  would  have  done  it  off 
her  that  minute  had  I  pressed  her,  but  I  lacked 
the  boldness  thereto  ;  and  I  said  :  Nay,  but  would 
she  bring  it  unto  me  the  next  time  we  met;  and 
forsooth  she  brought  it  folded  in  a  piece  of  green 
silk,  and  dearly  have  I  loved  it  and  kissed  it  sith- 
ence.  But  as  for  thy  smock,  I  had  it  fairly  wrought 
and  embroidered  with  the  flaming  green  branches, 
as  thou  seest  it,  and  I  gave  it  to  her ;  but  not  on 
the  day  when  she  gave  me  the  gift ;  for  the  new 
one  was  long  about  doing.  Now  this  is  all  the 
tale,  and  how  Viridis  might  eke  it  into  a  long  one, 
I  wot  not.  But  let  it  be,  and  tell  me,  have  I  won 
thy  smock,  or  lost  it  ? 

Birdalone  laughed  on  him  and  said :  Well,  at 
least  thou  shalt  have  it  as  a  gift ;  and  thou  mayst 
call  it  given  either  by  Viridis  or  me,  which  thou 
wilt.  But  with  it  goes  another  gift,  which  thou 
mayst  have  at  once  since  thou  must  lend  me  the 
smock  a  little  longer.  And  therewith  she  betook 
him  her  girdle,  and  he  kissed  it,  but  said  :  Nay, 
fair  lady,  this  befitteth  well  the  loveliness  of  thy 
body  that  thou  shouldst  wear  it ;  and  well  it  be- 
fitteth the  truth  and  love  of  thy  soul  to  ward  it  for 
me ;  I  pray  thee  to  keep  it.  Nevertheless,  she 
said,  I  will  not  have  it,  for  it  goeth  with  mine  errand 
that  thou  take  it  of  me.  Now  I  bid  thee  depart, 
and  send  hither  thy  fellow,  the  Black  Squire. 


174     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Went  he  then,  and  anon  comes  the  Black  Squire, 
and  now  that  he  was  alone  with  Birdalone  this  first 
time,  he  seemed  moody  and  downcast,  all  unlike 
the  two  others.  He  stood  a  little  aloof  from  Bird- 
alone,  and  said  :  What  wouldst  thou  ask  of  me  ? 
Her  heart  was  somewhat  chilled  by  his  moodiness, 
for  erst  had  she  deemed  him  the  kindest  of  the 
three  ;  but  she  said  :  It  is  of  mine  errand  to  ask  of 
thee  concerning  this  foot-gear  which  Atra  lent  me 
until  I  give  it  unto  thee,  if  thou  be  verily  her  lover. 
Said  he  :  I  was  verily  her  lover.  Birdalone  said  : 
Then  canst  thou  tell  me  the  manner  of  thy  giving 
these  fair  shoon  unto  Atra  ? 

He  said  :   Even  so  ;  we  were  walking  together 
in  this  country-side  and  came  to  a  ford  of  the  river, 
and  it  was  somewhat  deep  and  took  me  to  over  the 
knee,  so  1  bore  her  over  in  my  arms  ;  then  we  went 
on  a  little  further  till  we  must  cross  the  river  back 
again  in  another  place,  and  there  the  ford  was  shal- 
lower,  and,  the  day  being  hot,  Atra  must  needs 
wade  it  on  her  own  feet.      So  she  did  off  hosen  and 
shoon,  and  I  led  her  by  the  hand,  and  it  took  her 
but  up  to  mid-leg.      But  when  we  came  up  out  of 
the  water  and  were  on  the  grass  again,  I  craved  the 
gift  of  her  foot-gear  for  the  love  of  her,  and  she 
gave  it  straightway,  and  fared  home  barefoot,  for 
it  was  over  the  meads  we  were  wending  in  early 
summer,  and  the  grass  was   thick  and  soft.      But 
thereafter  I  did  do  make  the  fair  shoon  which  thou 
hast  on  thy  feet,  and  gave  them  to  her.      And,  for 
a  further  token  that  my  tale  is  true,  I  shall  tell  thee 
that  the  name  of  the  first  ford  we  waded  that  day 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        175 

is  the  Grey-nag's  Wade,  and  the  second  is  called 
Goat  Ford.  This  is  all  my  tale,  iady  ;  is  the  token 
true  ? 

True  it  is,  squire,  said  Birdalone,  and  was  silent 
awhile,  and  he  also.  Then  she  looked  on  him 
friendly,  and  said :  Thou  art  out  of  heart  as  now, 
my  friend.  Fear  not,  for  thou  shalt  without  doubt 
see  thy  speech-friend  again.  Moreover  here  is  a 
ring  which  she  set  upon  my  finger,  bidding  me  give 
it  thee.     And  she  held  it  out  unto  him. 

He  took  the  ring,  and  said  :  Yea,  it  is  best  that 
I  have  it  of  thee,  lest  unluck  come  thereof  She 
saw  trouble  in  his  face,  but  knew  not  what  to  say 
to  cheer  him,  and  they  stood  silently  facing  one 
another  for  awhile.  Then  he  said  :  Let  us  back  to 
our  fellows,  and  talk  it  over,  what  is  now  to  be 
done. 

So  they  went  their  ways  to  where  lay  the  other 
two  upon  the  green  grass,  and  the  Black  Squire 
lay  down  beside  them  ;  but  Birdalone  stood  before 
them  and  spake  unto  the  three. 


CHAPTER  VI.  HOW  THE  CHAM- 
PIONS WOULD  DO  BIRDALONE  TO 
BE  CLAD  ANEW  IN  THE  CASTLE 
OF    THE    QUEST. 

LORDS,  she  said,  now  is  it  clear  by  the  tokens 
that  mine  errand  is  to  you  and  none  other ; 
now  therefore  am  I  to  tell  you  what  to  do  to 
come  unto  your  speech-friends  and  deliver  them 
and  bring  them  back  hither.  For  this  is  their  case, 
that  they  are  in  captivity  in  a  wonder-isle  of  this 
great  water,  and  it  is  called  the  Isle  of  Increase 
Unsought. 

Spake  the  Golden  Knight :  Fair  lady,  we  have 
heard  before  that  our  friends  fared  hence,  or  rather 
were  taken  hence  over  the  water.  And  that  is  the 
cause  why  we  builded  this  castle  on  the  water's  edge, 
on  the  very  stead  where  was  raised  the  pavilion,  the 
house  made  for  the  ladies  to  abide  therein  the  battle 
of  the  Champions.  Since  that  time,  moreover, 
many  a  barge  and  keel  have  we  thrust  out  into  the 
water,  that  we  might  accomplish  the  Ouest  where- 
unto  we  were  vowed  ;  but  ever  one  way  went  our 
seafaring,  that  when  we  were  come  so  far  out  into 
the  water  as  to  lose  sight  of  land,  came  upon  us 
mist,  rose  against  us  dusk  and  darkness  ;  and  then 
a  fierce  driving  wind  that  drave  us  back  to  this 
shore.  It  is  but  six  days  ago  since  we  tried  this 
adventure  for  the  last  time,  and  belike  the  same 
shall  befall  us  the  next  time  we  try  it.  Wherefore 
I  must  ask  thee,  lady,  dost  thou  know  any  way 
whereby  we  may  come  to  the  said  isle  .^     For  if  thou 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        1 77 

dost,  full  surely  we  will  try  it,  whatsoever  may  be 
the  risk  thereby  to  our  bodies  or  our  souls. 

Full  surely  I  do,  said  Birdalone  ;  else  how  had 
I  come  from  thence  hither  mine  own  self?  And 
therewith  she  told  them  of  the  Sending  Boat,  what 
it  was,  and  how  she  had  come  all  the  way  by  means 
thereof  from  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought;  and 
they  all  hearkened  her  heedfully,  and  wondered 
both  at  the  sorcery,  and  the  valiant  heart  of  her  who 
had  driven  it  as  she  would  in  despite  of  the  evil. 
But  in  the  end  she  spake  and  said  :  Lords,  ye  have 
now  heard  some  deal  of  my  story,  even  that  which 
concerns  you  thereof,  and  w  hich  must  needs  be  told 
at  once  :  wheretore  doubtless  ye  shall  fare  unto 
your  speech-friends  by  this  ferry  in  the  very  wise 
that  I  shall  show  you;  unless  perchance  ye  deem 
that  I  have  been  lying  and  making  light  tales  to 
you,  as,  sooth  to  say,  I  deem  ye  think  it  not. 

Spake  the  Golden  Knight  :  Damsel,  in  all  wise 
we  trow  in  thee  and  thy  tale.  And  God  forbid  that 
we  should  tarry  !      Go  we  hence  this  very  day. 

Yea,  but  hearken,  said  the  Black  Squire :  Is  it 
not  a  part  of  this  damsel's  errand  that  she  should 
deliver  to  us  the  raiment  of  our  friends,  which  now 
she  beareth  on  her  own  body,  that  we  may  bear  it 
back  unto  them  ? 

Sooth  is  that,  said  Birdalone,  and  ye  may  well 
wot  that  this  may  be  nought  but  needful,  whereas 
the  said  ladies  be  all  beset  by  sorceries. 

See  ye  then,  fellows,  said  the  Black  Squire,  it  may 
not  be  to-day  nor  yet  to-morrow  that  we  may  take 
the  road.      For  ye  wot  that  there  is  no  woman's  gear 

\2 


lyS     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

in  all  the  castle,  and  we  must  needs  send  otherwhere 
to  seek  it. 

Look  thou,  maiden,  said  the  Golden  Knight, 
laughing,  how  duly  this  young  knight  thinketh  of 
thee;  whereas  I,  who  am  his  elder,  and  should  be 
wiser  than  he,  am  but  heedless  of  thee.  1  pray  thy 
pardon. 

Moreover,  said  the  Black  Squire,  there  may  well 
be  wisdom  in  abiding;  for  it  is  to  be  thought  that 
our  dear  loves  considered  this,  and  knew  what  the 
time  of  tarrying  should  be,  and  have  so  dight  their 
matter  as  to  fit  in  therewith  ;  and  I  may  not  deem 
it  of  them  that  they  would  have  us  array  this  our 
dear  sister  and  theirs  in  unseemly  wise.  Nay,  for 
that  would  be  an  ill  beginning  of  this  deal  of  the 
Quest. 

Now  all  yeasaid  this  gladly ;  and  the  Green 
Knight  said  :  It  were  not  so  ill  done  that  we  should 
see  more  of  our  sister  here  ere  we  depart,  and  hear 
more  of  her  tale  ;  for  meseemeth  she  began  it  ere- 
while  but  half-way.  And  he  turned  to  Birdalone, 
and  took  her  hand  and  caressed  it. 

Birdalone  smiled  on  them  somewhat  shyly,  and 
thanked  them  ;  but  bade  them  spend  as  little  time 
as  might  be  on  her  arrayal.  For,  said  she,  though 
those  ladies  may  well  have  reckoned  on  the  time  of 
the  arrayal  of  my  body,  yet  surely  also  they  shall 
have  reckoned  with  the  eager  fire  of  love  in  the 
hearts  of  you,  and  the  haste  it  shall  breed  therein. 

Well  pleased  were  they  with  that  word  of  hers, 
but  none  the  less  sent  two  sergeants  and  a  squire 
with  led  horses  unto  the  cheaping-town,  a  goodly 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        1 79 

and  great  town  hight  Greenford,  which  was  some 
twenty  miles  thence,  with  the  errand  to  bring  back 
with  them  a  good  shaper  and  embroideress,  and 
sewing-women,  and  cloth  and  silk  and  linen,  and 
all  things  needful. 

As  for  jewels,  each  one  of  them  was  fain  to  give 
her  something  which  he  prized,  and  fair  and  rich 
were  the  gifts,  though  they  had  not  been  made  for 
women.  As  a  fair  SS  collar  of  gold,  which  the 
Golden  Knight  gave  her,  and  a  girdle  of  broad 
golden  plates,  wrought  beauteously,  which  was  the 
gift  of  the  Black  Squire.  Albeit  he  did  not  offer 
to  clasp  it  round  her  loins,  as  she  deemed  he  would ; 
for  when  the  Green  Knight  brought  his  gift,  a 
great  gold  ring,  very  ancient  of  fashion,  he  would 
have  her  turn  back  the  sleeve  from  her  fore-arm, 
that  he  might  set  his  dwarf-wrought  gold  upon 
the  bare  flesh  ;  neither  did  he  refrain  him  from 
kissing  it  withal. 

But  the  messengers  came  back  with  their  work- 
women and  stuffs  early  on  the  morrow ;  and  now 
was  changed  all  the  manner  of  the  womanless  castle, 
and  men  were  full  merry  therein. 


CHAPTER  VII.  OF  BIRDALONE,  HOW 
SHE  TOLD  THE  CHAMPIONS  ALL  HER 
TALE. 

IT  was  a  matter  of  eight  days,  the  making  of  all 
Birdalone's  raiment,  and  meanwhile  she  was 
ever  with  the  three  Champions,  either  all  three 
together,  or  one  or  other  of  them.  And  as  to  their 
manners  with  her,  ever  was  the  Golden  Knight  of 
somewhat  sober  demeanour,  as  if  he  were  an  older 
man  than  he  verily  was.  The  Green  Knight  was 
for  ever  praising  Birdalone's  beauty  to  her  face, 
and  seemed  to  find  it  no  easy  matter  to  keep  his 
eyes  off  her,  and  somewhat  he  wearied  her  with 
kisses  and  caresses  ;  but  a  gay  and  sportive  lad  he 
was  ;  and  when  she  rebuked  him  for  his  overmuch 
fondness,  as  now  and  again  she  did,  he  would  laugh 
at  himself  along;  with  her  :  and  in  sooth  she  deemed 
him  heart-whole,  and  of  all  truth  to  Viridis,  and  oft 
he  would  talk  of  her  to  Birdalone,  and  praise  her 
darling  beauty  to  her,  and  tell  of  his  longing  for 
his  love  aloof.  Only,  quoth  he,  here  art  thou,  my 
sister,  dwelling  amongst  us,  and  shedding  thy  fra- 
grance on  us,  and  showing  to  us,  wilt  thou,  wilt  thou 
not,  as  do  the  flowers,  all  the  grace  and  loveliness 
of  thee  ;  and  thou  so  tender  of  heart  withal,  that 
thou  must  not  blame  me  overmuch  if  whiles  I  for- 
get that  thou  art  my  sister,  and  that  my  love  is, 
woe's  me  !  far  away.  So  thou  wilt  pardon  me,  wilt 
thou  not?  Yea,  verily,  said  she,  with  a  whole  heart. 
Yet  thou  needest  not  reach  out  for  my  hand  ;  thou 
hast  had  enough  of  it  this  morning.    And  she  hid 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        l8l 

it,  laughing,  in  the  folds  of  her  gown  ;  and  he 
laughed  also,  and  said  :  Of  a  truth  thou  art  good 
in  all  wise,  and  a  young  fool  am,  I ;  but  Viridis 
shall  make  me  wiser,  when  we  come  together  again. 
Sawest  thou  ever  so  fair  a  damsel  ?  Never,  she 
said,  and  surely  there  is  none  fairer  in  all  the  world. 
So  hold  thee  aloof  now  for  a  while,  and  think  of 
her. 

As  for  the  Black  Squire,  hight  Arthur,  Bird- 
alone  was  troubled  for  him,  and  he  made  her  some- 
what sad.  True  it  is  that  he  came  not  before  her 
again  so  moody  and  downcast  as  when  he  was  giv- 
ing her  the  token  ;  yet  she  deemed  that  he  enforced 
himself  to  seem  of  good  cheer.  Furthermore, 
though  he  sought  her  company  ever,  and  that 
lonely  with  him,  and  would  talk  with  her  almost 
as  one  man  with  another,  though  with  a  certain 
tenderness  in  his  voice,  and  looking  earnestly  on 
her  the  while,  yet  never  would  he  take  her  hand, 
or  touch  her  in  any  wise.  And  true  it  is  that  she 
longed  for  the  touch  of  his  hand. 

On  the  third  day  of  her  sojourn  in  the  Castle 
of  the  Ouest,  Birdalone  took  heart  at  the  much 
egging  of  her  friends,  as  they  sat  all  together  in 
the  meadow  without  the  castle,  to  tell  them  all  the 
story  of  her  ;  she  hid  none,  save  concerning  the 
wood-mother,  for  she  deemed  that  her  sweet  friend 
would  love  her  the  better  if  she  babbled  not  of 
her. 

So  the  Champions  hearkened  her  telling  the  tale 
in  her  clear  lovely  voice,  and  great  was  their  love 
and  pity  for  the  poor  lonely  maiden.      And  in  espe- 


1 82     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

cial  clear  it  was  to  see  that  they  were  sore  moved 
when  she  told  how  she  first  came  on  the  Sending 
Boat,  and  how  the  witch-wife  tormented  her  inno- 
cent body  for  that  guilt.  Then  Baudoin  laid  his 
hand  upon  her  head,  and  spake  :  Poor  child,  much 
indeed  hast  thou  suffered !  and  now  I  will  say  it, 
that  it  was  for  us  and  our  loves  that  thou  hast  borne 
all  this  anguish  of  captivity  and  toil  and  stripes. 

But  Hugh  leaned  over  to  her,  as  she  sat  with  her 
head  hanging  down,  and  kissed  her  cheek,  and  said : 
Yea  !  and  I  was  not  there  to  smite  the  head  off  that 
accursed  one;  and  I  knew  nought  of  thee  and  thine 
anguish,  as  I  took  my  light  pleasure  about  these 
free  meadows.  And  he  turned  very  red,  and  went 
nigh  to  weep. 

Arthur  sat  still  with  his  eyes  bent  down  on  the 
ground,  and  he  said  nothing;  and  Birdalone  glanced 
on  him  wistfully  ere  she  went  on  with  her  tale.  And 
she  went  on  and  told  closely  all  that  had  happened 
unto  her  in  the  crossing  of  the  water  and  on  the 
Isle  of  Increase  Unsought,  and  the  other  Wonder 
Isles  ;  and  she  deemed  it  not  too  much  that  she 
should  tell  it  twice  over,  nor  they  that  twice  over 
they  should  hearken  it. 

That  same  evening  as  Birdalone  walked  by  her- 
self in  the  castle  pleasance,  she  saw  Arthur  peering 
about  as  if  he  were  seeking  someone  ;  so  she  stood 
forth,  and  asked  him  was  he  seeking  aught ;  and 
he  said :  Thee  was  I  seeking.  But  she  durst  not 
ask  him  what  he  would,  but  stood  silent  and  trem- 
bling before  him,  till  he  took  her  hand,  and  spake 
not  loud  but  eagerly. 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    QUEST        183 

After  what  thou  hast  told  us  to-day,  I  seem  to 
know  thee  what  thou  art ;  and  I  tell  thee  that  it  is 
a  pain  and  grief  to  me  to  leave  thee,  yea  to  leave 
thee  were  it  but  for  a  minute.  O  I  pray  thee  pity 
me  for  the  sundering.  And  therewith  he  turned 
about  and  hastened  into  the  castle.  But  Birdalone 
stood  there  with  her  heart  beating  fast  and  her  flesh 
quivering,  and  a  strange  sweetness  ofjoy  took  hold 
of  her.  But  she  said  to  herself  that  it  was  no  won- 
der though  she  felt  so  happy,  seeing  that  she  had 
found  out  that,  despite  her  fears,  this  one  of  her 
friends  loved  her  no  less  well  than  the  others.  And 
then  she  spake  it  in  a  soft  voice  that  she  would 
indeed  pity  him  for  the  sundering,  yea,  and  herself 
also. 

Nevertheless,  when  they  met  thereafter,  his  de- 
meanour to  her  was  none  otherwise  than  it  had 
been  ;  but  she  no  longer  heeded  this  since  now  she 
trowed  in  him. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  IN  THE  MEANWHILE 
OF  THE  DEPARTING  OF  THE  CHAM- 
PIONS, THEY  WOULD  PLEASURE 
BIRDALONE  WITH  FEATS  OF  ARMS 
AND  GAMES  OF  PROWESS. 

PASSED  the  days  now  speedily,  and  the  three 
Champions  did  what  they  might  for  the  solace 
of  Birdalone.  For  they  and  their  household 
showed  her  of  arms,  and  they  tilted  together  cour- 
teously ;  and  the  sergeants  stood  forth,  and  shot  in 
the  bow  before  her,  till  she  herself  by  their  bidding 
took  the  bow  in  hand,  and  shot  straighter  and  well- 
nigh  as  hard  as  the  best  man  there,  whereat  they 
marvelled,  and  praised  her  much. 

Then  the  young  men  ran  afoot  before  her  for 
the  prize  of  a  belt  and  knife,  and  forsooth  she 
wotted  well  that  were  she  to  run  against  them  with 
trussed-up  skirts  she  would  bear  off  the  prize  ;  but 
she  had  no  heart  thereto,  for  amidst  them  all,  and 
her  new  friendships,  she  had  grown  shamefast,  and 
might  play  the  wood-maiden  no  longer. 

Yet  twice  the  Champions  fared  further  afield 
with  her  to  show  her  some  woodcraft ;  yet  were  not 
very  free  to  go  far,  because  of  the  ill  neighbours 
whereof  the  chaplain  had  told  her  that  first  night 
of  her  coming. 

And  in  all  these  pastimes,  whatso  they  were, 
Birdalone  bore  herself  well  and  merrily,  and  put 
from  her  the  sorrow  of  the  sundering,  and  the  peril 
of  her  dear  friends  which  grew  now  so  near  at 
hand. 


OF   THE    CASTLE   OF    THE    QUEST        185 

The  chaplain  aforesaid,  who  hight  Leonard,  she 
fell  in  with  not  seldom  ;  and  he  was  ever  meek  and 
humble  before  her  ;  and  ever  withal  was  sorrow  easy 
to  be  seen  in  his  countenance,  and  trouble  withal  ; 
and  she  knew  not  how  to  help  him,  save  by  being 
courteous  and  kind  with  him  whenso  they  met  ; 
but  none  the  more  might  he  pluck  up  cheerful 
countenance  in  answer  to  her  kindness. 

With  Sir  Aymeris,  the  grizzle-haired  castellan, 
she  foregathered  also  oft  enough,  and  could  not 
forbear  some  merry  gibes  with  him  concerning  their 
first  meeting,  and  how  that  she  had  been  a  bur- 
den and  a  terror  to  him  ;  and  these  mocks  she 
made  him  because  she  saw  it  liked  him  not  ill  to 
be  mocked  in  friendly  fashion  ;  though  forsooth 
betwixt  the  laughter  he  looked  on  her  somewhat 
ruefully.  And  ever,  ere  he  parted  from  her,  he 
made  occasion  to  kiss  her  hands  ;  and  she  suffered 
it  smiling,  and  was  debonair  to  him  ;  whereas  she 
saw  that  he  was  of  good  will  to  her.  In  such  wise 
then  wore  the  hours  and  the  days. 


CHAPTER  IX.  BIRDALONE  COMETH 
BEFORE  THE  CHAMPIONS  IN  HER 
NEW  ARRAY. 

NOW  the  time  was  come  when  Birdalone  had 
all  her  gear  ready,  and  the  women  were  to 
abide  in  the  castle  as  her  serving-damsels 
while  the  Champions  were  away. 

So  now  in  the  summer  eve,  an  hour  before  sun- 
set, Birdalone  did  on  the  richest  of  her  new  rai- 
ment, and  came  into  the  hall  where  sat  the  Three 
together,  and  Sir  Aymeris  with  them.  She  was  so 
clad,  that  she  had  on  a  green  gown  with  broidered 
sleeves,  and  thereover  a  white  cote-hardie  welted 
with  gold,  and  gold-embroidered  ;  on  her  feet  were 
gold  shoon  of  window-work,  pearled  and  gemmed ; 
and  on  her  head  a  rose  garland ;  on  her  neck  she 
bore  the  Golden  Knight's  collar ;  her  loins  were 
girt  with  the  Black  Squire's  girdle ;  and  on  her 
wrist  was  the  Green  Knight's  ancient  gold  ring ; 
and  she  carried  in  her  arms  Aurea's  gown  and 
Viridis'  shift  and  Atra's  shoon. 

Rather  sunrise  than  sunset  it  seemed,  as  verily 
birdalone  she  came  into  the  hall  with  bright  eager 
eyes,  and  flushed  cheeks,  and  countenance  smil- 
ing with  love.  The  men  stood  up  all,  and  would 
come  down  from  the  dais  to  meet  her  ;  but  she 
bade  them  go  back,  and  sit  each  in  his  place  till 
she  stood  before  them. 

Up  the  hall  then  she  walked,  and  every  step  of 
hers  seemed  lovelier  than  the  last,  till  she  came 
to  them  and  gave  unto  each  his  keepsake,  and  said  : 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF   THE    gUEST        187 

Champions,  now  is  mine  errand  all  done,  save  that 
to-morrow  I  must  show  vou  the  manner  of  the 
Sending  Boat.  Now  there  is  nought  save  the  dark- 
ness of  the  coming  night  to  hinder  you  from  this 
last  deal  of  your  Quest ;  and  it  is  I  that  have 
brought  you  to  this,  and  have  done  this  good  unto 
you,  if  no  more  good  I  do  in  the  world.  Where- 
fore I  pray  you  to  love  me  ever,  and  bear  me  ever 
in  your  minds. 

They  gazed  on  her,  and  were  overcome  by  her 
loveliness  and  grace,  and  by  the  kindness  and  val- 
iancy of  her  heart.  Next  arose  the  Golden  Knight, 
Baudoin  to  wit,  and  took  a  cross  from  his  breast, 
and  held  it  up,  and  spake :  Maiden,  thou  sayest 
well,  and  never  shall  we  forget  thee,  or  cease  to  love 
thee  ;  and  here  I  swear  by  God  upon  the  Tree,  that 
it  shall  be  a  light  thing  for  me  to  die  for  thee,  if  in 
any  need  I  find  thee.  Brethren,  will  ye  not  swear 
the  same  ?  And  this  is  but  thy  due,  maiden,  for  I 
declare  unto  thee,  that  when  thou  didst  enter  the 
hall  e'en  now,  it  was  as  if  the  very  sun  of  heaven 
was  coming  in  unto  us. 

Thereon  the  other  two  took  the  Rood  and  swore 
upon  it :  and  Hugh  was  hushed  and  meek  and  sad- 
faced  after  he  had  sworn ;  but  Arthur  the  Black 
Squire  bowed  down  his  head  and  wept,  and  his 
fellows  marvelled  nought  thereat,  neither  did  Bird- 
alone  ;  and  all  her  body  yearned  toward  him  to 
solace  him. 

Now  turned  Sir  Baudoin  to  the  castellan  and 
said :  Sir  Aymeris,  I  will  now  swear  thee  to  guard 
this  lady  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye  whiles  we  three 


1 88     THE   WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

be  away,  and  therein  to  spare  neither  thyself  nor 
others.  For  thou  seest  well  what  grief  it  would  be 
to  us  if  she  came  to  any  harm. 

And  to  me  also,  said  the  castellan.  And  there- 
with he  swore  upon  the  Rood,  and  then  came  round 
the  table,  and  knelt  before  Birdalone,  and  kissed 
her  hands. 

Thereafter  were  they  all  silent  a  space  ;  and  then 
came  Birdalone  to  the  inner  side  of  the  table  and 
sat  betwixt  Baudoin  and  Hugh.  But  the  Black 
Squire  took  up  the  word  and  spake:  Birdalone, 
sweet  child,  one  thing  is  to  be  said,  to  wit,  that  it 
were  well  that  thou  keep  within  walls  while  we  be 
away ;  or  at  least  that  thou  go  but  a  little  beyond 
the  castle,  and  never  but  within  a  half  bowshot,  save 
thou  be  well  accompanied.  For  there  be  men  of 
violence  dwelling  no  great  way  off,  reivers  and 
rovers,  who  would  be  well  pleased  to  take  from  us 
anything  which  we  deem  dear  ;  besides  others  who 
would  think  the  lifting  of  such  a  jewel  good  hap 
indeed.  Sir  Aymeris,  have  a  care  of  the  Red 
Knight ;  and  if  thou  mightest  come  by  a  few  more 
stout  lads,  to  wage  them,  it  were  well. 

Birdalone  heeded  not  what  the  castellan  an- 
swered, such  a  shaft  of  joy  went  to  her  heart  when 
she  heard  that  friend  speak  her  own  name  in  such 
wise  as  he  had  never  done  erst,  and  that  before 
them  all.  She  but  murmured  some  yeasay  to  that 
which  Arthur  had  spoken  unto  her,  and  then  she 
held  her  peace  for  the  sweetness  of  that  moment. 

So  there  they  sat  and  talked  a  while  in  dear  and 
pleasant  converse ;  and  Hugh  fell  to  asking  her 


OF    THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        189 

of  her  life  in  the  House  under  the  Wood,  and  she 
answered  all  frankly  and  simply,  and  the  more  she 
told  the  dearer  she  seemed  to  them. 

Thus  drew  night  in,  till  folk  came  flockmeal  into 
the  hall ;  for  needs  must  be  feast  and  banquet  for 
triumph  of  the  furtherance  of  the  Quest ;  and  the 
most  of  men  were  merry  ;  but  somewhat  sober  were 
all  the  three  Champions,  so  that  whoso  ran  might 
read  it  in  their  faces.  As  for  Birdalone,  she  showed 
cheerflil  to  all  that  folk  which  loved  her  and  praised 
her;  but  inwardly  sorrow  had  come  home  to  her 
heart. 


CHAPTER   X.     THE    CHAMPIONS   GO 
THEIR  WAYS  IN  THE  SENDING  BOAT. 

WHEN  the  sun  was  arisen  on  the  morrow 
the  three  Champions  went  down  to  the 
landing-place,  and  there  was  none  with 
them  ;  for  they  had  given  command  that  no  man 
should  pry  into  their  doings.  Thither  to  them 
Cometh  Birdalone,  clad  no  more  in  her  gay  attire, 
but  in  a  strait  black  coat  and  with  unshod  feet ;  and 
she  looked  no  sorrier  than  she  was. 

By  Birdalone's  rede  the  Champions  bore  down 
in  their  own  hands  the  victual  and  weapons  and 
armour  that  they  needed  for  the  voyage  ;  for  she 
knew  not  but  that  the  Sending  Boat  might  take  it 
amiss  that  any  should  touch  her  save  the  senders. 
And  when  they  had  done  lading  her,  then  all  four 
stood  together  by  the  water's  edge,  and  Birdalone 
spake  to  her  friends,  and  again  bade  them  beware 
of  the  wiles  of  the  Isle  of  Nothing  ;  and  again  she 
told  them  of  the  woful  images  of  the  Isle  of  Kings 
and  the  Isle  of  Queens,  and  the  strange  folk  of  the 
Isle  of  the  Young  and  the  Old.  Then  she  said  : 
Now  when  ye  come  to  the  Isle  of  Increase  Un- 
sought, what  think  ye  to  do  P  Said  the  Green 
Knight :  If  I  might  rule,  we  should  go  straight  up 
to  the  witch  sitting  in  her  hall,  as  thou  toldest  us, 
my  dear,  and  then  and  there  smite  the  head  from 
off  her.  His  eyes  flashed  and  his  brow  knitted, 
and  so  fierce  he  looked  that  Birdalone  shrank  back 
from  him  ;  but  the  Black  Squire  smiled  and  said : 
It  may  come  to  the  smiting  off  of  heads  in  the  end  ; 


OF   THE   CASTLE   OF    THE    QUEST        19 1 

yet  must  we  so  fashion  our  carving,  that  it  avail  us 
for  the  freeing  of  our  friends ;  else  may  the  witch 
die,  and  the  secret  of  the  prison-house  die  with  her. 
How  sayest  thou,  dear  Birdalone  ? 

She  reddened  at  the  caress  of  his  voice,  and  an- 
swered :  By  my  rede  ye  shall  seek  and  find  your 
speech-friends  ere  ye  make  open  war  upon  the  witch ; 
else  may  her  mahce  destroy  them  ere  ye  undo  her. 
Her  face  flushed  yet  more  as  she  spake  again  : 
But  concerning  all  things,  I  deem  that  Atra  may 
give  you  the  best  rede,  when  ye  have  met  the  loves ; 
for  that  she  knoweth  more  of  the  isle  and  its  guiles 
than  the  others. 

Quoth  Baudoin:  Herein  is  wisdom,  sweet 
maiden,  for  as  guileless  as  thou  mayst  be;  and  so 
far  as  we  may  we  shall  follow  thy  rede ;  but  all 
lieth  in  the  fathom  of  the  coming  time.  And  now 
this  moment  is  the  moment  of  sundering  and  fare- 
well. 

Came  he  then  to  Birdalone  and  took  his  two 
hands  about  her  head,  and  lifted  her  face  unto  him, 
and  kissed  it  kindly,  as  a  father  might  kiss  a  daugh- 
ter, and  said  :  Farewell,  dear  child,  and  take  heed 
to  the  word  that  Arthur  spake  yesterday,  and  go 
not  from  the  castle  even  a  little  way  save  with  good 
and  sure  company. 

Then  came  Hugh  to  her,  and  took  her  hand 
somewhat  timidly  ;  but  she  put  up  her  face  to  him 
in  simple  wise,  and  he  kissed  either  cheek  of  her, 
and  said  no  more  than  :  Farewell,  Birdalone! 

Lastly  came  Arthur,  and  stood  before  her  a  little; 
and  then  he  knelt  down  on  the  stones  before  her 


192     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

and  kissed  her  feet  many  times,  and  she  shuddered 
and  caught  her  breath  as  they  felt  his  kisses;  but 
neither  he  nor  she  spake  a  word,  and  he  stood  up 
and  turned  away  at  once  toward  the  Sending  Boat, 
and  boarded  her  first  of  the  three  ;  and  the  others 
followed  straightway. 

Thereafter  the  Champions  bared  each  an  arm, 
and  let  blood  flow  thence  into  a  bowl,  and  reddened 
stem  and  stern  of  their  barge,  and  then  all  three 
spake  the  spell  together  thus,  as  Birdalone  had 
taught  them  : 

The  red  raven-wine  now 

Hast  thou  drunk,  stern  and   bow  : 

Wake  then,  and  awake. 

And  the  northern  way  take  ! 

The  way  of  the  Wenders  forth  over  the  flood. 

For  the  will  of  the  Senders  is  blent  with  the  blood. 

Went  all  as  before  thereafter,  that  the  Sending 
Boat  stirred  under  them,  and  then  turned  about 
and  pointed  her  bows  to  the  northward,  and  sped 
swiftly  over  the  waters.  It  was  a  fair  sunny  day, 
with  no  cloud,  nought  save  the  summer  haze  lying 
on  the  lake  far  away.  Birdalone  stood  watching 
the  speeding  of  the  boat,  till  she  could  see  it  no 
longer,  not  even  as  a  fleck  on  the  face  of  the  waters. 
Then  she  turned  away  and  went  toward  her  cham- 
ber, saying  to  herself  that  the  sundering  was  easier 
to  bear  than  she  had  deemed  it  would  be,  and  that 
she  had  a  many  things  to  do  that  day.  But  when 
she  came  into  her  chamber,  and  shut  the  door,  she 
looked  about  her  on  the  things  which  had  grown 
so  familiar  to  her  in  these  few  latter  days,  and  she 


OF   THE    CASTLE    OF    THE    QUEST        193 

stood  watching  the  bright  sunshine  that  streamed 
across  the  floor  and  lay  warm  upon  her  feet ;  then 
she  took  three  steps  toward  the  window,  and  saw 
the  lake  lying  all  a-glitter  under  the  sun,  and  her 
heart  failed  her  withal,  and  she  had  no  might  so 
much  as  to  think  about  her  sorrow  and  caress  it, 
but  fell  down  where  she  was  swooning  on  to  the 
floor,  and  lay  there,  while  all  the  house  began  to 
stir  about  her. 

Here  ends  the  Third  Part  of  the  Water 
of  the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  Of  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  begins  the  fourth 
Part  of  the  said  tale,  which  is  called  Of  the 
Days  of  Abiding. 


13 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  FOURTH  PART:  OF 
THE  DAYS  OF  ABIDING. 

CHAPTER  I.  OF  BIRDALONE'S  GRIEF; 
AND  OF  LEONARD  THE  CHAPLAIN. 

NOW  came  Birdalone  to  herself,  and  that  was 
but  little  joy  unto  her,  and  she  yet  lay  still 
on  the  floor  for  a  while,  for  she  loathed  the 
hour  that  was  to  come.  Then  the  life  stirred  in 
her,  and  whereas  she  would  not  that  her  women 
should  find  her  there,  she  stood  up,  and  clad  her- 
self somewhat  more  seemly;  yet  she  did  on  her 
black  raiment ;  and  determined  in  her  mind  that 
nought  would  she  wear  save  black  unadorned  while 
her  friends  were  away. 

She  betook  her  now  to  the  chamber  where  her 
women  were  gathered  together,  and  watched  them 
working  a  while,  but  spake  nought.  Then  she 
went  her  ways  into  the  pleasance,  and  paced  the 
plashed  alley  up  and  down,  letting  the  tears  run 
down  from  her  as  they  would.  Then  she  turned 
back  into  the  castle,  and  went  out-a-gates  and 
walked  over  the  meadow  a  little,  and  might  well 
have  gone  further  than  wisdom  would.  But  the 
castellan  espied  her  from  a  window,  and  came  hur- 
rying out  after  her,  and  with  many  prayers  for  par- 
don, brought  her  back  again,  babbling  to  her  by 
the  way  ;  but  not  a  word  might  he  get  from  her ; 
and  when  he  came  into   the  hall   with   her,  and. 


OF    THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  195 

after  his  wont,  knelt  down  to  kiss  her  hands,  she 
caught  them  away  from  him  peevishly,  and  was 
sorry  for  it  thereafter. 

Long  she  sat  in  the  hall,  scarce  moving,  till  she 
heard  one  entering  from  the  screen,  and  lo  it  was 
Leonard  the  chaplain.  He  came  her  way,  and 
showed  her  rueful  countenance ;  and  pity  of  him 
smote  her,  and  she  remembered  therewith  how 
they  first  went  out  of  gates  together ;  and  at  the 
thought  thereof  her  tears  brake  forth  again,  but 
she  made  him  a  sign  with  her  hand  to  sit  down 
beside  her,  and  he  did  so  ;  and  when  she  might 
for  her  weeping,  she  looked  kindly  on  him,  and 
he  fell  to  talk,  making  as  if  he  noted  not  her  tears 
and  sorrow  ;  but  she  answered  him  little,  for  she 
had  shame  to  begin  the  talk  concerning  the 
Champions  and  their  Quest,  and  their  departure  ; 
yet  might  she  not  bring  her  tongue  to  make  any 
speech  else.  But  presently  he  took  up  the  word, 
and  asked  her  how  long  a  while  she  deemed  they 
would  be  away,  and  she  answered,  smiling  on  him 
for  thanks,  and  having  reckoned  the  days  on  her 
fingers  :  If  all  go  better  than  well,  they  may  be 
back  in  ten  days'  time.  Said  the  chaplain  :  There 
be  longer  whiles  of  waiting  in  most  men's  lives. 
Yea,  she  said,  but  this  is  the  delay  at  the  best ;  it 
may  be  far  longer  ;  for  how  may  we  tell  what 
haps  may  be  ? 

Yea,  said  Leonard,  shall  we  then  call  it  twenty 
days,  or  thirty  ?  Forsooth,  that  may  be  long  for 
thee ;  though  there  be  some  who  must  needs 
endure  hope  deferred  a  deal  longer.     But  it  may 


196     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

run  out  longer  than  even  thirty  days,  thy  waiting- 
tide. 

She  answered  not,  and  he  said  :  Whenso  the  time 
hangs  heavy  on  hand  with  thee,  if  thou  hast  will 
to  fare  abroad  out  of  the  castle,  I  shall  be  ever  at 
hand  to  guide  thee.  Indeed,  I  wot  that  the  cas- 
tellan will  be  loth  to  let  thee  go  ;  but  he  is  old  and 
straitlaced  :  and  yet  withal  he  wotteth,  as  do  we  all, 
that  there  is  now  little  peril  or  none  were  we  to  fare 
a  five  miles  or  more,  whereas  we  are  as  good  as  at 
peace  for  the  last  five  days  with  all  save  the  Red 
Knight,  and  of  him  we  wot  that  he  is  gone  into 
another  land  with  as  many  of  his  folk  as  be  not 
needed  for  the  warding  of  his  hold. 

I  thank  thee,  said  Birdalone,  but  it  is  like  to  be 
my  will  not  to  fare  out-a-gates  till  the  Champions 
come  back  home.  I  was  glad  e'en  now  when  the 
castellan  fetched  me  in  again  :  to  say  sooth,  fear  of 
peril  had  just  entered  my  heart  when  he  came  up 
with  me. 

The  priest  seemed  somewhat  chapfallen  at  her 
answer.  He  spake  little  more,  and  presently  he 
stood  up,  made  his  obeisance,  and  departed. 


CHAPTER  11.  BIRDALONE  LEARN- 
ETH  LORE  OF  THE  PRIEST.  TEN 
DAYS    OF    WAITING    WEAR. 

WORE  that  day  and  the  next,  and  Bird- 
alone  fell  to  talking  with  her  women, 
whereof  were  five  now  left;  and  four  of 
them  were  young,  the  eldest  scarce  of  thirty  sum- 
mers, and  the  fifth  was  a  woman  of  sixty,  both  wise 
and  kind.  All  these  told  her  somewhat  of  their 
own  lives  when  she  asked  them  ;  and  some  withal 
told  of  folk  whom  they  had  known  or  heard  tell  of. 
And  well  pleased  was  Birdalone  to  hear  thereof,  and 
learn  more  of  the  ways  of  the  world,  and  quick- 
witted she  was  at  the  lesson,  so  that  she  needed  not 
to  ask  many  questions. 

Furthermore,  she  took  to  her  broidering  again, 
and  fell  to  doing  a  goodly  pair  of  shoon  for  Atra, 
since  she  had  worn  those  borrowed  ones  somewhat 
hardly.  And  the  women  wondered  at  her  needle- 
work, so  marvellous  fine  as  it  was,  and  how  that 
in  little  space  of  time  were  come  flowers  and  trees, 
and  birds  and  beasts,  all  lovely  ;  and  they  said  that 
the  faery  must  have  learned  her  that  craft.  But 
she  laughed  and  reddened,  and  thought  of  the 
wood-mother;  and,  sitting  there  within  the  four 
walls,  she  longed  for  the  oak-glades,  and  the  wood- 
lawns,  and  for  the  sight  of  the  beasts  that  dwelt 
therein. 

Again  she  fell  in  with  Leonard  the  priest,  and 
he  asked  her  could  she  read  in  a  book,  and  when 
she  said  nay,  he  ofl^ered  to  teach  her  that  lore,  and 


198     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

she  yeasaid  that  joyously  ;  and  thenceforth  would 
she  have  him  with  her  every  day  a  good  while  ;  and 
an  apt  scholar  she  was,  and  he  no  ill  master,  and 
she  learned  her  ABC  speedily. 

Now  it  was  the  ninth  day  since  the  Champions 
were  gone,  and  all  that  time  she  had  not  been  out- 
a-gates ;  and  after  the  first  two  days,  had  enforced 
herself  to  fill  up  her  time  with  her  work  as  afore- 
said: but  this  last  day  she  might  do  but  little,  for 
she  could  not  but  take  it  for  sure  that  the  morrow 
would  be  the  day  of  return  ;  nay,  even  she  deemed 
that  they  might  come  in  the  night-tide ;  so  that 
when  she  went  to  bed,  though  she  was  weary,  she 
would  wake  if  she  might,  so  that  it  was  nigh  dawn 
ere  she  fell  asleep. 

Some  three  hours  after  she  woke  up,  and  heard 
a  sound  of  folk  stirring  in  the  house,  and  the  clash- 
ing of  weapons;  and  the  heart  leapt  in  her,  and  she 
said :  They  are  come,  they  are  come  !  Neverthe- 
less she  durst  not  get  out  of  bed,  lest  her  hope 
had  beguiled  her ;  and  she  lay  awake  another  hour, 
and  no  tidings  came  to  her ;  and  then  she  wept 
herself  to  sleep  ;  and  when  she  awoke  once  more, 
she  found  that  she  must  have  wept  sleeping,  for 
the  pillow  beside  her  face  was  all  wet  with  the 
tears. 

The  sun  was  high  now,  and  his  beams  were  cast 
back  from  the  ripple  of  the  lake,  and  shone  waver- 
ing on  the  wall  of  the  chamber,  the  window  whereof 
gave  on  to  the  water.  Then  came  a  hand  on  the 
latch  of  the  door,  and  she  started,  and  her  heart 
grieved  her  ;  but  it  was  one  of  the  women  who 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  199 

opened,  and  came  in,  and  Birdalone  rose  up  sitting 
in  her  bed,  and  said  faintly,  for  she  could  scarce 
speak  :  Is  any  tiding  toward,  Catherine  ?  The  maid 
said :  Yes,  my  lady ;  for  early  after  sunrise  came 
weaponed  men  to  the  gate,  and  would  sell  us  beeves ; 
and  my  lord,  Sir  Aymeris,  must  needs  go  forth  and 
chaffer  with  them,  though  belike  they  had  been 
lifting  what  was  neither  ours,  nor  theirs,  nor  the 
neighbours'.  Maybe  Sir  Aymeris  looked  to  buy 
tidings  from  them  as  well  as  beef  Anyhow  they 
departed  when  they  had  gotten  their  money  and 
drunk  a  cup.  And  now  it  is  said  that  the  Red 
Knight  hath  been  hurt  in  some  fray,  and  keepeth 
his  bed  ;  wherefore  the  land  shall  have  peace  of  him 
awhile.  Said  Birdalone  :  I  thank  thee,  good  Cathe- 
rine ;  I  shall  lie  a  little  longer ;  depart  now. 

The  woman  went  her  ways ;  and  when  she  was 
gone,  Birdalone  wept  and  sobbed,  and  writhed 
upon  her  bed,  and  found  no  solace  to  her  grief. 
But  she  arose  and  paced  the  chamber,  and  sithence 
looked  out  of  the  window  over  the  empty  water, 
and  wept  again.  Then  she  said  :  Yet  they  may 
come  ere  noon,  or  it  may  be  ere  evening,  or  per- 
chance to-morrow  morning.  And  she  stayed  her 
weeping,  and  was  calmer.  But  still  she  walked  the 
floor,  and  whiles  looked  out  of  window,  and  whiles 
she  looked  on  her  limbs,  and  felt  the  sleekness  of 
her  sides,  and  she  said :  O  my  body  !  how  thou 
longest ! 

But  at  last  she  clad  herself  in  haste,  and  went 
stealthily  from  the  chamber,  as  if  she  feared  to  meet 
anyone ;  and  she  stole  up  to  the  tower-top  that 


200     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

was  nighest,  and  looked  through  the  door  on  to 
the  leads,  and  saw  no  one  there ;  so  she  went  out, 
and  stood  by  the  battlement,  and  gazed  long  over 
the  water,  but  saw  neither  boat  nor  burning  moun- 
tain coming  towards  her. 


CHAPTER    III.     NOW    WOULD    BIRD- 
ALONE  RIDE  ABROAD. 

AFTER  a  while  she  came  down  again,  and 
went  to  the  women,  and  sat  working  with 
them  a  while,  and  so  wore  away  two  hours. 
Then  she  sent  for  the  priest  and  had  her  lesson  of 
him  ;  and  when  she  had  been  at  it  another  two 
hours,  she  bade  him  begin  and  learn  her  writing  ; 
and  nought  loth  he  was  thereto  ;  forsooth  he  had 
been  longing  to  pray  her  to  suffer  him  learn  her, 
but  durst  not.  For  in  such  teaching  needs  must 
he  sit  full  nigh  to  her,  and  watch  her  hands,  and 
her  fingers  striving  to  shape  the  letters  ;  nay,  whiles 
must  he  touch  her  hand  with  his,  and  hold  it. 
Wherefore  now  he  promised  himself  a  taste  of 
Paradise.  Withal  he  was  full  mieet  to  learn  her, 
whereas  he  was  one  of  the  best  of  scribes,  and  a 
fair-writer  full  handy. 

So  they  fell  to  the  lesson,  and  she  became  eager 
thereover,  and  learned  fast,  and  clave  to  the  work, 
while  his  soul  was  tormented  with  longing  for  her. 
And  thus  wore  a  three  hours,  and  then  suddenly 
she  looked  up  wearily  from  her  work,  and  her 
trouble  was  awake,  and  the  longing  for  her  speech- 
friend,  and  she  gave  the  priest  leave  for  that  day, 
but  suffered  him  to  kiss  her  hand  for  wages. 

Then  she  hurried  up  to  the  tower-top,  when  the 
afternoon  was  wearing  into  evening ;  and  abode 
there  a  long  while  looking  over  the  waters,  till  it 
began  to  dusk,  and  then  came  down  miserably  and 
went  to  her  women. 


202     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

The  next  day  was  like  unto  this  ;  nought  betid, 
and  she  wore  the  hours  whiles  going  up  to  the 
tower-top  and  looking  over  the  lake,  whiles  broid- 
ering  amidst  her  maids,  whiles  learning  her  clerk's 
work  with  Sir  Leonard,  but  ever  eating  her  heart 
out  with  her  longing. 

On  the  third  of  these  days  she  called  the  castel- 
lan to  her  for  a  talk,  and  asked  him  what  he  thought 
of  it,  this  delay  of  his  lords'  return.  Quoth  the 
greyhead  :  My  lady,  we  may  not  wonder  if  they  be 
tarried  for  a  few  days  ;  for  this  is  an  adventure  on 
which  they  have  gone,  and  many  haps  betide  in  such 
tales.  Now  I  beseech  thee  torment  not  thyself; 
for  the  time  is  not  yet  come  for  thee  even  to  doubt 
that  they  have  miscarried. 

His  words  solaced  her  much  for  that  time,  where- 
as she  saw  that  he  spake  but  the  sooth  ;  so  she 
thanked  him,  and  smiled  upon  him  kindly  ;  and 
he  was  ravished  thereat,  and  was  for  kneeling  be- 
fore her  at  once  and  kissing  her  hands  after  his 
wont ;  but  she  smiled  again  and  refrained  him,  and 
said  :  Nay,  not  yet,  fair  friend ;  that  is  for  the  de- 
parture, and  I  have  yet  a  word  to  say  unto  thee  : 
to  wit,  that  I  long  to  go  out-a-gates,  and  it  will 
solace  me  and  give  me  patience  to  abide  the  com- 
ing of  my  friends.  For  thou  must  know.  Sir  Ay- 
meris,  that  I  was  reared  amidst  the  woods  and  the 
meadows,  with  the  burning  of  the  sun,  and  the 
buffets  of  the  wind  ;  and  now  for  lack  of  some  deal 
of  that  am  I  waxing  white  and  faint.  And  thou 
wouldst  not  have  me  falling  sick  on  thine  hands 
now,  wouldst  thou  ? 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  203 

Nay,  surely,  lady,  said  Sir  Aymeris ;  this  very 
day  I  will  ride  out  with  thee ;  and  two  score  or 
more  of  weaponed  men  shall  ride  with  us  for  fear 
of  mishaps.  Said  Birdalone,  knitting  her  brows  : 
Nay,  knight,  I  need  not  thy  men-at-arms ;  I 
would  fain  go  free  and  alone.  For  hast  thou  not 
heard  how  that  the  Red  Knight  is  hurt  and  keep- 
eth  his  bed  ?  So  what  peril  is  there  ?  Said  Sir 
Aymeris :  Yea,  lady  ;  but  the  Red  Knight  is  not 
the  only  foe,  though  he  be  the  worst :  but  it  may 
well  be  that  the  story  is  but  feigned,  for  the  said 
enemy  hath  many  wiles.  And  look  you,  kind  lady, 
it  is  most  like  that  by  now  he  hath  heard  how  in 
my  poor  castle  is  kept  a  jewel,  a  pearl  of  great 
price,  that  hath  not  its  like  in  the  world,  and  will 
encompass  the  stealing  of  it  if  he  may. 

Laughed  Birdalone,  and  said  :  But  how  if  the 
said  jewel  hath  a  will,  and  legs  and  feet  thereto,  and 
is  ready  to  take  the  peril  on  her,  and  will  wend 
out-a-gates  if  she  will  ?  What  wilt  thou  do  then, 
lord  ?  Then,  said  the  castellan,  I  shall  fetch  thee 
back,  and,  though  it  be  a  grief  to  me,  shall  have 
thee  borne  back  perforce  if  nought  else  may  do. 
For  so  the  oath  sworn  to  my  lords  compelleth  me. 

Again  laughed  Birdalone,  and  said  :  Hearken, 
whereto  cometh  all  this  kneeling  and  hand-kiss- 
ing !  But  bear  in  mind,  fair  lord,  how  once  on 
a  time  thou  wouldst  have  me  out-a-gates,  would 
I,  would  I  not,  and  now,  will  I,  will  I  not,  thou 
wouldst  keep  me  within  ;  so  have  times  changed, 
and  mayhappen  they  may  change  yet  again.  But 
tell   me,  am  I  mistress   over   my   women   to   bid 


204     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

them  what  I  will  ?  Certes,  said  he,  and  over  all 
of  us.  Said  she  :  If  then  I  bade  them,  some  two 
or  three,  come  with  me  into  the  meadows  and 
woods  a  half  day's  journey  for  our  disport,  how 
then  ?  For  that  once,  said  Sir  Aymeris,  I  should 
bid  them  disobey  their  lady.  Said  Birdalone  : 
And  how  if  they  disobeyed  thee,  and  obeyed  me  ? 
Quoth  Sir  Aymeris  :  If  they  bring  thee  back  safe, 
they  may  chance  to  sing  to  the  twiggen  fiddle-bow, 
that  they  may  be  warned  from  such  folly  ;  but  if 
they  come  back  without  thee,  by  All-hallows  the 
wind  of  wrath  shall  sweep  their  heads  off  them  ! 

Birdalone  flushed  red  at  his  word,  and  was 
silent  a  while  ;  then  she  said,  making  cheerful 
countenance  again  :  Thou  art  a  hard  master,  lord 
castellan  ;  but  I  must  needs  obey  thee.  There- 
fore I  will  take  thy  bidding,  and  ride  abroad  in 
such  wise  that  I  shall  scare  the  land  with  an  army, 
since  no  otherwise  may  I  look  on  the  summer  land. 
But  to-day  I  will  not  go,  nor  to-morrow  belike  ; 
but  some  day  soon.  And  in  good  sooth  I  thank 
thee  for  thy  heedful  care  of  me,  and  wish  I  were 
better  worth  it.  Nay,  nay,  thou  shalt  not  kneel  to 
me,  but  I  to  thee  :  for  thou  art  verily  the  master. 

Therewith  she  rose  from  beside  him,  and  knelt 
down  before  him  and  took  his  hand  and  kissed 
it,  and  went  her  ways,  leaving  him  ravished  with 
love  of  her.  But  now  she  had  no  scorn  of  him, 
but  deemed,  as  was  true,  that  he  was  both  valiant 
and  trusty  and  kind,  and  she  thanked  him  in  her 
heart  as  well  as  in  words. 


CHAPTER   IV.     OF    BIRDALONE'S 
FARING  ABROAD. 

INDEED  Birdalone  longed  on  any  terms  to 
be  out-a-gates  and  to  have  some  joy  of  the 
summer  ;  for  now  she  began  to  see  that  she 
might  have  to  abide  some  while  ere  her  friends 
should  come  to  her  in  the  Castle  of  the  Ouest : 
and  she  was  angry  with  herself  that  her  longing 
was  thus  wasting  her,  and  she  rebuked  herself  and 
said  :  Where  is  now  that  Birdalone  who  let  but 
few  days  go  by  without  some  joyance  of  the  earth 
and  its  creatures  ?  she  who  bore  lightly  the  toil 
of  a  thrall,  and  gibes  and  mocking  and  stripes? 
Surely  this  is  grievous  folly,  that  I  should  be 
worsened  since  I  have  come  to  be  the  friend  of 
gentle  ladies,  and  noble  champions,  and  niighty 
warriors.  Had  it  not  been  better  to  have  abided 
under  the  witchwife's  hand  ?  For  not  every  day 
nor  most  days  did  she  torment  me.  But  now  for 
many  days  there  has  been  pain  and  grief  and  heart- 
sickness  hour  by  hour ;  and  every  hour  have  I 
dreaded  the  coming  of  the  next  hour,  till  I  know 
not  how  to  bear  it. 

So  she  strove  with  herself,  and  became  of  better 
heart,  and  set  herself  strongly  to  the  learning  of  the 
clerkly  lore  ;  she  gathered  her  wits  together,  and  no 
longer  looked  for  every  day  and  every  hour  to  bring 
about  the  return  of  the  Champions,  nor  blamed  the 
day  and  the  hour  because  they  failed  therein,  and  in 
all  wise  she  strove  to  get  through  the  day  unworn 
by  vain  longing. 


2o6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Wherefore,  on  a  day  when  three  whole  weeks 
were  gone  since  the  day  of  departure,  she  was  glad 
when  the  castellan  came  to  her  and  said :  Lady, 
these  two  days  I  have  had  men  out  to  spy  the  land, 
and  their  word  goes  that  nought  is  stirring  which  a 
score  of  us  well-armed  might  have  cause  to  fear ; 
wherefore  to-morrow,  if  it  be  thy  will,  we  shall  bring 
thee  out-a-gates,  and  so  please  thee,  shall  be  in  no 
haste  to  come  back,  but  may  lie  out  in  the  wild- 
wood  one  night,  and  come  back  at  our  leisure  on  the 
morrow  of  to-morrow.  How  say  est  thou  of  thy 
pleasure  herein  ? 

She  thanked  him,  and  yeasaid  it  eagerly,  and  next 
morning  they  set  forth ;  and  Birdalone  had  with  her 
three  of  the  women,  and  they  had  sumpter-beasts 
with  them,  and  tents  for  Birdalone  and  her  maids. 

So  they  rode  by  pleasant  ways  and  fair  meadows, 
and  the  weather  was  good,  for  it  was  now  the  first 
days  of  July,  and  all  was  as  lovely  as  might  be  ;  and 
for  that  while  Birdalone  cast  off  all  her  cares,  and 
was  merry,  and  of  many  words  and  sweet ;  and  all 
the  folk  rejoiced  thereat,  for  all  loved  her  in  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  besides  those  one  or  two  that 
loved  her  overmuch. 

Rode  they  thus  a  twelve  miles  or  more,  and  then 
they  came,  as  their  purpose  was,  to  the  beginning  of 
a  woodland  plenteous  of  venison,  and  they  hunted 
here,  and  Birdalone  took  her  part  therein,  and  all 
praised  her  woodcraft ;  albeit  because  of  her  went 
a  head  or  two  free  that  had  fallen  else,  whereas  of 
the  carle  hunters  were  some  who  deemed  the  body 
of  her  better  worth  looking  on  than  the  quarry. 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  207 

Howsoever,  they  slew  of  hind  and  roe  and  other 
wood-cattle  what  they  would,  some  deal  for  their 
supper  in  the  wilderness,  some  to  bear  home  to  the 
castle.  But  when  night  was  nigh  at  hand  they  made 
stay  in  a  fair  wood-lawn  about  which  ran  a  clear 
stream,  whereby  they  pitched  the  ladies'  tent ;  and 
Birdalone  and  hers  went  down  into  the  water  and 
washed  the  weariness  off  them  ;  and  her  ladies  won- 
dered at  the  deftness  of  Birdalone's  swimming  ;  for 
they  bathed  in  a  pool  somewhat  great  into  which 
the  stream  widened,  so  that  there  was  space  enough 
for  her  therein. 

By  then  they  were  washen  and  clad  goodly  in  rai- 
ment which  they  had  brought  on  the  sumpters,  the 
men  had  lighted  fires  and  were  cooking  the  veni- 
son, and  anon  there  was  supper  and  banquet  in  the 
wildwood,  with  drinking  of  wine  and  pleasant  talk 
and  the  telling  of  tales  and  singing  of  minstrelsy; 
and  so  at  last,  when  night  was  well  worn,  and  out 
in  the  open  meadows  the  eastern  sky  was  waxing 
grey,  then  Birdalone  and  her  ladies  went  to  bed  in 
their  fair  tents,  and  the  men-at-arms  lay  down  on 
the  greensward  under  the  bare  heaven. 


CHAPTER  V.  SIR  AYMERIS  SHOW- 
ETH  BIRDALONE  THE  MOUNTAINS 
AFAR    OFF. 

WHEN  it  was  morning  and  they  arose,  the 
day  was  as  fair  as  yesterday,  and  folk  were 
even  as  joyous  as  they  had  been  then,  all 
but  Birdalone,  and  she  was  silent  and  downcast, 
even  when  she  came  forth  from  the  fresh  water  into 
the  sweetness  of  the  midsummer  wood.  She  had 
dreamed  in  the  night  that  she  was  all  alone  in  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  that  her  old  mistress  came 
to  her  from  out  of  the  Sending  Boat  to  fetch  her 
away,  and  brought  her  aboard,  and  stripped  her 
of  her  rich  garments  and  sat  facing  her,  drawing 
ugsome  grimaces  at  her  ;  and  she  thought  she  knew 
that  her  friends  were  all  dead  and  gone,  and  she 
had  none  to  pity  or  defend  her.  Then  somehow 
were  they  two,  the  witch  and  she,  amidmost  of  the 
Isle  of  Nothing,  and  the  witch  drew  close  anigh  her, 
and  was  just  going  to  whisper  into  her  ear  some- 
thing of  measureless  horror,  when  she  awoke  ;  and 
the  sun  was  bright  outside  the  shaded  whiteness  of 
her  tent ;  the  shadows  of  the  leaves  were  dancing 
on  the  ground  of  it ;  the  morning  wind  was  rustling 
the  tree-boughs,  and  the  ripple  of  the  stream  was 
tinkling  hard  by.  At  first  was  Birdalone  joyous 
that  what  she  had  awakened  from  was  but  a  dream  ; 
but  presently  she  felt  the  burden  of  her  longing,  and 
she  said  to  herself  that  when  they  came  back  to  the 
castle  they  should  find  tidings,  and  that  she  should 
know  either  that  her  friends  were  indeed  dead,  or 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  209 

that  they  were  come  back  again  alive  and  well. 
And  then  she  thought  within  herself,  suppose  the 
three  Champions  and  their  loves  were  dead  and 
gone,  how  would  she  do  with  those  that  were  left 
her,  as  Sir  Aymeris,  and  Leonard  the  priest,  and 
her  women?  and  her  soul  turned  with  loathing  from 
a  life  so  empty  as  that  would  be;  and  yet  she  blamed 
herself  that  she  was  so  little  friendly  to  these  lesser 
friends,  whom  forsooth  she  loved  because  of  her  love 
for  the  greater  ones.  So,  as  abovesaid,  she  was 
troubled  and  silent  amongst  the  joy  of  the  others. 

That  saw  Sir  Aymeris  the  castellan  ;  and  when 
they  had  broken  fast  and  were  getting  to  horse, 
he  came  to  her  and  said :  Lady,  the  day  is  yet 
young,  and  if  we  fetch  a  compass  by  a  way  that  I 
wot  of,  we  shall  see  places  new  to  thee,  and  may- 
happen  somewhat  wonderful,  and  yet  come  home 
timely  to  the  castle.     Wilt  thou  ? 

Birdalone  was  still  somewhat  distraught,  but  she 
knew  not  how  to  naysay  him,  though  at  heart  she 
would  liefer  have  gone  back  to  the  castle  by  the 
shortest  way.  So  folk  brought  her  her  palfrey, 
and  they  rode  their  ways,  the  castellan  ever  by  her 
side.  And  by  fair  ways  indeed  they  went,  and  so 
joyous  was  all  about  them,  that  little  by  little  Bird- 
alone's  gladness  came  back  to  her,  and  she  made 
the  most  of  it  to  be  as  merry  of  seeming  as  she 
might  be. 

Now  they  rode  fair  and  softly  by  thicket  and 
copse  and  glade  of  the  woodland,  following  up  the 
stream  aforesaid  for  the  more  part,  till  at  last  the 
trees  failed  them  suddenly,  and  they  came   forth 

14 


2IO     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

on  to  a  wide  green  plain,  all  unbuilded,  so  far  as 
their  eyes  could  see,  and  beyond  it  the  ridges  of  the 
hills  and  blue  mountains  rising  high  beyond  them. 

When  Birdalone's  eyes  beheld  this  new  thing, 
of  a  sudden  all  care  left  her,  and  she  dropped  her 
rein,  and  smote  her  palms  together,  and  cried  out : 
Oh  !  but  thou  art  beautiful,  O  earth,  thou  art 
beautiful !  Then  she  sat  gazing  on  it,  while  the 
greyhead  turned  and  smiled  on  her,  well  pleased  of 
her  pleasure. 

After  a  while  she  said  :  And  might  we  go  nigher  ? 
Yea,  certes,  said  he,  yet  I  doubt  if  thou  wilt  like 
it  the  better,  the  nigher  thou  art.  Ah  !  she  said, 
but  if  I  were  only  amidst  it,  and  a  part  of  it,  as 
once  I  was  of  the  woodland! 

So  thitherward  they  rode  over  the  unharvested 
mead,  and  saw  hart  and  hind  thereon,  and  wild 
kine,  and  of  smaller  deer  great  plenty,  but  of  tame 
beasts  none ;  and  the  hills  were  before  them  like 
a  wall.  But  as  they  drew  nigher,  they  saw  where 
the  said  wall  of  the  hills  was  cloven  by  a  valley 
narrow  and  steep-sided,  that  went  right  athwart  the 
lie  of  the  hills  ;  the  said  valley  was  but  little  grassed, 
and  the  bare  rocks  were  crow-black.  When  they 
had  gone  a  little  further,  they  could  see  that  the 
ground  near  the  foot  of  the  hills  rose  in  little  knolls 
and  ridges,  but  these  were  lower  and  fewer  about 
the  entry  into  that  valley.  Also  presently  they 
came  upon  a  stream  which  ran  out  of  the  said  val- 
ley, and  Sir  Aymeris  said  that  this  was  the  water 
whereby  they  had  lain  last  night ;  albeit  here  it 
was  little  indeed. 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  211 

Now  when  they  had  ridden  some  five  miles  over 
the  plain,  they  came  amongst  those  knolls  at  the 
mouth  of  the  valley,  and  Sir  Aymeris  led  Birdalone 
up  to  the  top  of  one  of  the  highest  of  them,  and 
thence  they  could  look  into  that  dale  and  see  how 
it  winded  away  up  toward  the  mountains,  like  to  a 
dismal  street ;  for  not  only  was  it  but  little  grassed, 
but  withal  there  was  neither  tree  nor  bush  therein. 
Moreover,  scattered  all  about  the  bottom  of  the 
dale  were  great  stones,  which  looked  as  if  they  had 
once  been  set  in  some  kind  of  order  ;  and  that  the 
more  whereas  they  were  not  black  like  the  rocks 
of  the  dale-side,  but  pale  grey  of  hue,  so  that  they 
looked  even  as  huge  sheep  of  the  giants  feeding 
down  the  dale. 

Then  spake  Birdalone:  Verily,  sir  knight,  thou 
saidst  but  sooth  that  I  should  see  things  new  and 
strange.  But  shall  we  go  a  little  way  into  this  val- 
ley to-day  ?  Nay,  lady,  said  Sir  Aymeris,  nor  to- 
morrow, nor  any  day  uncompelled ;  neither  shall 
we  go  nigher  unto  it  than  now  we  be.  Where- 
fore not?  said  Birdalone,  for  meseemeth  it  is  as 
the  gate  of  the  mountains ;  and  fain  were  I  in  the 
mountains. 

Lady,  said  the  castellan,  overmuch  perilous  it 
were  to  ride  the  valley,  which,  as  thou  sayest,  is 
the  very  gate  of  the  mountains.  For  the  said  dale, 
which  hight  the  Black  Valley  of  the  Greywethers, 
hath  a  bad  name  for  the  haunting  of  unmanlike 
wights,  against  which  even  our  men-at-arms  might 
make  no  defence.  And  if  any  might  escape  them, 
and  win  through  the  gates  and  up  into  the  moun- 


212     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

tains,  I  wot  not  if  suchlike  devils  and  things  un- 
kent  be  there  in  the  mountain-land,  but  of  a  sooth 
there  be  fierce  and  wild  men,  like  enough  to  devils, 
who  know  no  peace,  and  slay  whatsoever  cometh 
unto  them,  but  if  they  themselves  be  slain  of  them. 

Well,  said  Birdalone,  then  to-day,  at  least,  we 
go  not  into  the  dale  ;  but  knowest  thou  any  tales 
of  these  wild  places?  Many  have  I  heard,  said  he, 
but  I  am  an  ill  minstrel  and  should  spoil  them  in 
the  telling.  Ask  them  of  Sir  Leonard  our  priest, 
he  knoweth  of  them  better  than  others,  and  hath  a 
tongue  duly  shapen  for  telling  them. 

Birdalone  answered  nought  thereto  ;  she  but 
turned  her  horse's  head  and  rode  down  the  knoll; 
and  so  they  came  unto  their  company,  and  all  went 
their  ways  toward  the  Castle  of  the  Quest. 

Nought  befell  them  on  their  way  home  ;  but  the 
Higher  they  came  to  the  castle  the  more  pensive 
waxed  Birdalone,  and,  though  she  hid  it,  when  they 
were  come  to  the  gate  she  scarce  had  her  wit;  for 
it  was  as  if  she  thought  to  have  one  rushing  out 
and  crying :  Tidings,  tidings  !  they  are  come. 

Nowise  it  so  befell  ;  they  were  no  more  come 
than  was  the  Day  of  Doom.  And  a  little  after  they 
were  within  gates,  it  was  night;  and  Birdalone  crept 
wearily  up  to  her  chamber,  and  gat  to  bed,  and  so 
tired  was  she  that  she  fell  asleep  at  once  and  dreamed 
not. 


CHAPTER  VI.  BIRDALONE  HEAR- 
ETH  TELL  TALES  OF  THE  BLACK 
VALLEY   OF   THE    GREYWETHERS. 

ON  the  morrow  was  Birdalone  heavier  of  heart 
than  ever  yet,  and  wearier  for  tidings  ;  and 
she  wondered  how  she  could  have  been  so 
joyous  that  day  in  the  wildwood.  Yet  she  thought 
much  of  the  Valley  of  the  Greywethers,  and  that 
solaced  her  somewhat  after  a  while,  so  sore  she 
longed  to  go  thither ;  and,  as  'tis  said,  one  nail 
knocks  out  the  other.  So  that  morning,  when 
she  had  had  her  lesson  of  priest  Leonard,  she  spake 
thereof  to  him,  and  told  him  what  Sir  Aymeris  had 
said  concerning  his  knowledge  thereof;  and  she 
asked  him  what  he  knew. 

I  have  been  there,  said  he.  She  started  at  that 
word  and  said  :   Did  aught  of  evil  befall  thee  ? 

Nay,  said  he,  but  a  great  fear  and  dread  hung 
about  me  ;  and  'tis  said  that  they  try  their  luck 
overmuch  who  go  thither  twice. 

Birdalone  said  :  Tell  me  now  of  the  tales  that  be 
told  of  that  valley.  Quoth  Leonard  :  They  be 
many  ;  but  the  main  of  them  is  this  :  that  those 
Greywethers  be  giants  of  yore  agone,or  landwights, 
carles,  and  queans,  who  have  been  turned  into  stone 
by  I  wot  not  what  deed;  but  that  whiles  they  come 
alive  again,  and  can  walk  and  talk  as  erst  they  did ; 
and  that  if  any  man  may  be  so  bold  as  to  abide 
the  time  of  their  awakening,  and  in  the  first  mo- 
ment of  their  change  may  frame  words  that  crave 
the  fulfilment  of  his  desire,  and  if  therewith  he  be 


214     THE  WATER  OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

both  wise  and  constant,  then  shall  he  have  his  de- 
sire fulfilled  of  these  wights,  and  bear  his  life  back 
again  from  out  the  dale.  And  thus  must  he  speak 
and  no  otherwise:  O  Earth,  thou  and  thy  first  chil- 
dren, I  crave  of  you  such  and  such  a  thing,  what- 
soever it  may  be.  And  if  he  speak  more  than  this, 
then  is  he  undone.  He  shall  answer  no  question 
of  them ;  and  if  they  threaten  him  he  shall  not  pray 
them  mercy,  nor  quail  before  their  uplifted  weapons ; 
nor,  to  be  short,  shall  he  heed  them  more  than  if 
they  still  were  stones  unchanged.  Moreover,  when 
he  hath  said  his  say,  then  shall  these  wights  throng 
about  him  and  offer  him  gold  and  gems,  and  all  the 
wealth  of  the  earth ;  and  if  that  be  not  enough,  they 
shall  bring  him  the  goodliest  of  women,  with  nought 
lacking  in  her  shape,  but  lacking  all  raiment,  so  that 
he  shall  see  her  as  she  is  verily  shapen.  But  whoso 
shall  take  any  one  of  all  these  gifts  is  lost  for  ever, 
and  shall  become  one  of  that  Stony  People  ;  and 
whoso  naysayeth  them  all  until  the  cock  crow,  and 
abideth  steady  by  his  one  craving,  shall  win  fulfil- 
ment thereof,  and,  as  some  say,  all  those  gifts  afore- 
said ;  for  that  the  Stony  People  may  not  abide  the 
day  to  take  them  back  again. 

He  was  silent  therewith,  and  nought  spake  Bird- 
alone,  but  looked  down  on  the  ground,  and  long- 
ing encompassed  her  soul.  Then  the  priest  spake 
again  :  This  were  a  fair  adventure,  lady,  for  a  hap- 
less one,  but  for  the  happy  it  were  a  fool's  errand. 
She  answered  not,  and  they  parted  for  that  time. 

But  the  next  week,  there  being  yet  no  tidings  come 
to  hand,  Birdalone  prayed  the  castellan  to  take  her 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF   ABIDING  215 

out-a-gates  again,  that  she  might  once  more  behold 
the  mountains,  and  the  gates  thereof;  and  he  yea- 
said  her  asking,  and  went  with  her,  well  accompa- 
nied, as  before  ;  but  this  time,  by  Birdalone's  will, 
they  rode  straight  to  the  plain  aforesaid,  and  again 
she  looked  into  that  dale  of  the  Greywethers  from 
the  knoll.  Somewhat  belated  they  were,  so  that 
they  might  not  get  back  to  the  castle  before  dusk, 
wherefore  again  they  lay  out  in  the  wildwood,  but 
there  lacked  somewhat  of  the  triumph  and  joyance 
which  they  had  had  that  other  day.  They  came 
back  to  the  castle  on  the  morrow  somewhat  after 
noon,  and  found  no  news  there;  nor,  to  say  sooth, 
did  Birdalone  look  for  any  ;  and  her  heart  was 
heavy. 


CHAPTER  VII.  BIRDALONE  BEGUIL- 
ETH  THE  PRIEST  TO  HELP  HER  TO 
OUTGOING. 

NOW  had  the  time  so  worn  that  the  season  was 
in  the  first  days  of  August,  and  weariness 
and  heartsickness  increased  on  Birdalone 
again,  and  she  began  to  look  pined  and  pale.  Yet 
when  she  spake  of  the  tarrying  of  the  Champions 
both  to  the  castellan  and  Sir  Leonard  the  priest 
(who  was  the  wiser  man  of  the  two),  each  said  the 
same  thing,  to  wit,  that  it  was  no  marvel  if  they 
were  not  yet  come,  seeing  what-like  the  adventure 
was ;  and  neither  of  those  two  seemed  in  anywise 
to  have  lost  hope. 

Thrice  in  these  last  days  did  Birdalone  go  out- 
a-gates  with  Sir  Aymeris  and  his  company  ;  and 
the  last  of  the  three  times  the  journey  was  to  the 
knoll  that  looked  into  the  Black  Valley;  but  now 
was  Birdalone's  pleasure  of  the  sight  of  it  afar  off 
marred  by  her  longing  to  be  amidst  thereof;  yet 
she  did  not  show  that  she  was  irked  by  the  refrain- 
ing of  her  desire  to  enter  therein,  and  they  turned, 
and  came  home  safely  to  the  castle. 

On  the  morrow  she  sat  with  Sir  Leonard  the 
priest  over  the  writing  lesson,  and  she  let  it  be  long, 
and  oft  he  touched  her  hand,  so  that  the  sweetness 
of  unfulfilled  desire  went  deep  to  his  heart. 

At  last  Birdalone  looked  up  and  said :  Friend, 
I  would  ask  thee  if  thou  seest  any  peril  in  my  enter- 
ing the  Black  Valley  of  the  Greywethers  by  day- 
light if  I  leave  it  by  daylight  ?    Alone  ?  quoth  he. 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  217 

Yea,  she  said,  alone.  He  pondered  a  little,  and 
then  said  :  Sooth  to  say  I  deem  the  peril  little  in  the 
valley  itself,  if  thou  be  not  overcome  by  terror 
there.  Yea,  for  my  part  I  am  not  all  so  sure  that 
thou  shalt  see  the  wonder  of  the  Stony  Folk  com- 
ing alive  ;  for  'tis  not  said  that  they  quicken  save  on 
certain  nights,  and  chiefly  on  Midsummer  Night ; 
unless  it  be  that  the  trier  of  the  adventure  is  some 
one  fated  above  others  thereto  ;  as  forsooth  thou 
mayst  be.  And  as  for  peril  of  evil  men,  there  are 
few  who  be  like  to  be  as  venturesome  as  thou  or  I. 
They  durst  not  enter  that  black  street,  save  sore 
need  compel  them.  But  forsooth,  going  thither, 
and  coming  back  again,  some  peril  there  may  be 
therein.  And  yet  for  weeks  past  there  has  been 
no  word  of  any  unpeace ;  and  the  Red  Knight  it 
is  said  for  certain  is  not  riding. 

Birdalone  was  silent  a  while  ;  then  she  said  :  Fair 
and  kind  friend,  I  am  eating  my  heart  out  in  long- 
ing for  the  coming  back  of  my  friends,  and  it  is 
like,  that  unless  I  take  to  some  remedy,  I  shall  fall 
sick  thereby,  and  then  when  they  come  back  there 
shall  be  in  me  but  sorry  cheer  for  them.  Now  the 
remedy  I  know,  and  it  is  that  I  betake  me  alone  to 
this  adventure  of  the  Black  Valley  ;  for  meseemeth 
that  I  shall  gain  health  and  strength  by  my  going 
thither.  Wherefore,  to  be  short,  if  thou  wilt  help 
me,  I  will  go  to-morrow.  What  sayest  thou,  wilt 
thou  help  me  ? 

He  turned  very  red  and  spake :  Lady,  why 
shouldestthougo,  as  thy  name  is, birdalone?  Thou 
hast  called  me  just  now  thy  kind  friend,  so  kind  as 


21 8     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

it  was  of  thee  ;  now  therefore  why  should  not  thy 
friend  go  with  thee  ? 

Kindly  indeed  she  smiled  on  him,  but  shook  her 
head  :  I  call  thee  trusty  and  dear  friend  again,  said 
she  ;  but  what  I  would  do  1  must  do  myself.  More- 
over to  what  end  shouldst  thou  go  ?  If  I  fall  in 
with  ghosts,  a  score  of  men  would  help  me  nought ; 
and  if  I  happen  on  weaponed  men  who  would  do 
me  scathe,  of  what  avail  were  one  man  against 
them  ?  And  look  thou,  Sir  Leonard,  there  is  this 
avail  in  thine  abiding  behind  ;  if  I  come  not  back 
in  two  days'  space,  or  three  at  the  most,  thou  wilt 
wot  that  I  have  fared  amiss,  and  then  mayst  thou 
let  it  be  known  whither  I  went,  and  men  will  seek 
me  and  deliver  me  maybe. 

Therewith  she  stayed  her  words  suddenly,  and 
turned  very  pale,  and  laid  her  hand  on  her  bosom, 
and  said  faintly  :  But  O  my  heart,  my  heart !  If 
they  should  come  while  I  am  away  !  And  she 
seemed  like  to  swoon. 

Leonard  was  afraid  thereat,  and  knew  not  what 
to  do ;  but  presently  the  colour  came  into  her  face 
again,  and  in  a  little  while  she  smiled,  and  said  : 
Seest  thou  not,  friend,  how  weak  I  am  gotten  to 
be,  and  that  I  must  now  beyond  doubt  have  the 
remedy  ?    Wilt  thou  not  help  me  do  it  ? 

Yea  verily,  said  he ;  but  in  what  wise  wilt  thou 
have  it?  He  spake  as  a  man  distraught  and  rede- 
less  ;  but  she  smiled  on  him  pleasantly,  and  said  : 
Now  by  this  time  shouldst  thou  have  devised  what 
was  to  do,  and  spared  me  the  pain  thereof.  Two 
things  I  need  of  thee  :  the  first  and  most,  to  be  put 


OF    THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  219 

out  of  the  castle  privily  betimes  in  the  morning 
when  nought  is  stirring ;  the  second,  to  have  my 
palfrey  awaiting  me  somewhat  anigh  the  gate,  so 
that  I  may  not  have  to  go  afoot :  for  I  am  become 
soft  and  feeble  with  all  this  house-life. 

Leonard  seemed  to  wake  up  with  that  word,  and 
said:  I  have  the  key  of  the  priest's  door  of  the 
chapel,  and  the  postern  beyond  it ;  that  shall  be 
thine  out-gate,  lady.  I  will  come  and  scratch  at  thy 
chamber-door  much  betimes,  and  I  will  see  to  it 
that  thy  palfrey  is  bestowed  in  the  bower  wherein 
thou  didst  rest  the  first  night  thou  earnest  amongst 
us.  She  said:  I  trust  thee,  friend.  And  she  thanked 
him  sweetly,  and  then  rose  up  and  fell  to  pacing  the 
hall  up  and  down.  Leonard  hung  about  watching 
her  a  while,  she  nought  forbidding  him,  for  her 
thoughts  were  elsewhere,  and  she  had  forgotten 
him ;  and  at  last  he  went  his  ways  to  set  about 
doing  what  she  would. 


CHAPTER   VIII.     BIRDALONE    FARES 
ON    HER   ADVENTURE. 

DAWN  was  butjust  beginning  when  Birdalone 
awoke,  and  though  she  had  not  heard  Leon- 
ard at  the  door,  she  sprang  out  of  bed  and 
clad  herself,  doing  on  her  black  gown ;  and  she 
had  a  scrip  with  some  bread  therein,  and  a  sharp 
knife  at  her  girdle.  Then  even  as  she  had  done 
she  heard  the  priest's  nail  on  the  door,  and  she 
turned  thereto ;  but  as  she  went,  her  eye  caught 
her  bow  and  quiver  of  arrows  where  they  hung  on 
the  wall,  so  she  took  the  bow  in  her  hand  and  slung 
the  quiver  over  her  shoulder  ere  she  opened  the 
door  and  found  Leonard  standing  there.  Neither 
of  them  spake  aught,  but  they  stole  downstairs,  and 
so  to  the  chapel  and  out  by  the  priest's  door  and 
the  postern  in  the  wall-nook,  and  were  presently 
out  in  the  fresh  morning  air;  and  Birdalone  was 
joyous  and  lightfoot,  and  scarce  felt  the  earth  be- 
neath her  soles  for  pleasure  of  her  hope,  whereas 
she  deemed  she  had  a  thing  to  crave  of  the  Stony 
Folk,  if  they  should  come  alive  before  her.  Fain 
were  she,  if  she  might  withal,  to  give  a  joy  to  some 
other  ;  so  that  when  they  were  gone  but  a  little  way 
from  the  castle  she  reached  out  her  hand  to  Leon- 
ard and  took  his,  and  said:  Hand  in  hand  we  walked 
when  first  I  went  this  way,  and  I  deemed  thee  kind 
and  friendly  then,  and  even  so  hast  thou  been 
sithence. 

He  was  dumbfoundered  at  first  for  joy  of  the 
touch  of  her  hand  and  the  sweetness  of  her  words  ; 


OF    THE   DAYS    OF    ABIDING  221 

but  presently  he  spake  to  her  confused  and  stam- 
mering, and  praised  her  that  she  had  thought  to 
take  her  bow  and  arrows ;  for,  said  he,  that  they 
might  stand  her  in  stead  for  defence  or  for  getting 
of  food,  or  for  an  excuse  for  wending  the  woods. 
She  nodded  yeasay  unto  him,  and  bade  him  again 
to  bide  three  days  for  her,  and  if  she  came  not  again 
in  that  time,  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it  to  Sir 
Aymeris. 

Yea,  said  the  priest,  and  then  .  .  .  Why,  what 
then  ?  He  can  but  shove  me  out  by  the  shoulders, 
and  then  I  can  seek  to  the  little  house  of  canons 
that  is  at  Gate  Cross  on  the  road  to  Greenford. 

Ah,  my  friend!  said  Birdalone,  how  we  women 
think  of  nothing  at  all  but  ourselves  !  And  wilt 
thou  be  thrust  out  of  thine  home  for  helping  me 
herein  ?  Why  did  I  not  look  to  my  palfrey  my- 
self? And  the  keys  I  might  have  stolen  from  thee, 
always  with  thy  good  will.  But  now  I  see  that  I 
have  done  thee  a  hurt. 

Said  Sir  Leonard :  Lady,  a  priest  hath  a  home 
wheresoever  is  an  house  of  religion.  There  is  no 
harm  done,  save  Sir  Aymeris  bethink  him  of  hang- 
ing me  over  the  battlements ;  as  I  doubt  he  will 
not  with  a  priest.  Moreover,  I  pray  thee  believe, 
thatwert  thou  gone  from  the  castle,  house  and  home 
were  none  for  me  there.  And  he  looked  upon  her 
piteously,  as  if  he  were  beseeching. 

But  she  knew  not  what  to  say,  and  hung  her 
head  adown  ;  and  presently  they  were  come  to  the 
bower  in  the  copse,  which  this  time  was  a  stable 
for  Birdalone's  palfrey  instead  of  a  chamber  for 


222     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

herself.  So  Leonard  went  in  and  fetched  out  the 
comely  beast ;  and  Birdalone  stood  with  him  just 
in  the  cover  of  the  copse  waiting  to  put  her  foot  in 
the  stirrup;  but  she  might  not  but  abide  to  look 
upon  the  priest,  who  stood  there  as  if  he  were  striv- 
ing with  his  words. 

So  she  said  :  Now  is  need  of  haste  to  be  gone. 
Yet  one  word,  my  friend  :  Is  there  aught  betwixt 
us  wherein  I  have  done  thee  wrong  ?  If  so  it  be, 
I  pray  thee  to  say  out  what  it  is ;  for  it  may  be 
(though  I  think  it  not)  thou  shalt  not  see  me  again 
from  henceforth. 

He  caught  his  breath,  as  if  he  had  much  ado  to 
refrain  the  sobbing  ;  but  he  mastered  it,  and  said  : 
Lady  and  dear  friend,  if  I  see  thee  not  again,  I 
heed  not  what  shall  befall  me.  Thou  hast  done 
me  no  wrong.  There  is  this  only  betwixt  us,  that 
I  love  thee,  and  thou  lovest  not  me. 

She  looked  on  him  sweetly  and  pitifully,  and 
said  :  I  may  not  choose  but  understand  thy  word, 
to  wit,  that  thy  love  for  me  is  the  desire  of  a  man 
toward  a  woman  ;  and  that  is  unhappy  ;  for  I  love 
thee  indeed,  but  not  as  a  woman  loveth  a  man. 
It  is  best  to  say  thus  much  to  thee  downright. 
But  I  feel  in  my  heart  that  when  I  have  said  it, 
it  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  I  cannot  help  tl;iee,  and 
therefore  am  I  sorry  indeed. 

He  stood  before  her  abashed,  but  he  said  at 
last :  Now  art  thou  so  sweet,  and  so  kind,  and  so 
true,  that  I  must  perforce  love  thee  yet  more  ;  and 
this  maketh  me  bold  to  say  that  thou  mayst  help 
me  a  little,  or  so  meseemeth.     How  so  ?  said  Bird- 


OF   THE   DAYS    OF   ABIDING  223 

alone.  Quoth  he :  If  thou  wouldst  suffer  me  to 
kiss  thy  face  this  once.  She  shook  her  head,  and 
spake  :  How  may  it  avail  thee,  when  it  is  for  once, 
and  once  only,  as  forsooth  it  must  be  ?  Yet  it  is 
thy  choice,  not  mine,  and  I  will  not  naysay  thee. 

And  therewith  she  put  up  her  face  to  him,  and 
he  kissed  her  cheek  without  touching  her  other- 
wise, and  then  he  kissed  her  mouth  ;  and  she 
knew  that  he  was  both  timorous  and  sad,  and  she 
was  ashamed  to  look  on  him,  or  to  speak  to  him 
any  more,  lest  she  should  behold  him  ashamed ; 
so  she  but  said :  Farewell,  friend,  till  to-morrow 
at  least. 

And  therewith  her  foot  was  in  the  stirrup,  and 
anon  she  sat  in  the  saddle,  and  her  palfrey  was 
ambling  briskly  on  the  way  she  would. 


CHAPTER    IX.      BIRDALONE    COMES 
TO    THE    BLACK  VALLEY. 

LITTLE  is  to  tell  of  Birdalone's  journey  unto 
the  knoll  above  the  Black  Valley  of  the 
Greywethers.  It  was  about  noon  when  she 
came  there,  and  had  met  but  few  folk  on  the  way, 
and  those  few  were  husbandmen,  or  carlines,  or 
maidens  wending  afield  betimes  not  far  from  the 
Castle  of  the  Ouest. 

Now  she  sat  on  her  horse  and  looked  down 
into  the  dale  and  its  stony  people  once  more,  and 
saw  nought  stirring  save  three  ravens  who,  not 
far  off,  were  flapping  about  from  stone  to  stone  of 
the  Greywethers,  and  croaking  loud  to  each  other 
as  if  some  tidings  were  toward.  She  watched  their 
play  for  a  little,  and  then  gat  off  her  horse,  and 
sat  down  on  the  grass  of  the  knoll,  and  drew  forth 
her  victual,  and  ate  and  drank ;  for  she  deemed  it 
happier  to  eat  and  drink  there  than  in  the  very 
jaws  of  the  Black  Valley. 

Soon  was  her  dinner  done,  and  then  she  got  to 
her  saddle  again,  and  rode  slowly  down  to  the  little 
stream,  and  along  it  toward  the  valley  and  the 
gates  of  the  mountains,  which  she  had  been  fain 
to  pass  through  ;  but  now,  as  had  happed  with 
her  that  morning  when  she  was  boun  for  the  Send- 
ing Boat,  somewhat  she  hung  back  from  the  ad- 
venture, and  when  she  lacked  but  some  five  score 
yards  from  the  very  dale  itself,  she  lighted  down 
again,  and  let  her  way-beast  bite  the  grass,  while 
she  sat  down  and  watched  the  rippling  water. 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  225 

In  a  while  she  drew  off  shoon  and  hosen,  and 
stood  in  the  shallow  ripple,  and  bathed  her  hands 
and  face  withal,  and  stooped  up-stream  and  drank 
from  the  hollow  of  her  hands,  and  so  stepped 
ashore  and  was  waxen  hardier  ;  then  she  strung  her 
bow  and  looked  to  the  shafts  in  her  quiver,  and  did 
on  her  foot-gear,  and  mounted  once  more,  and  so 
rode  a  brisk  amble  right  on  into  the  dale,  and  was 
soon  come  amongst  the  Greywethers  ;  and  she  saw 
that  they  were  a  many,  and  that  all  the  bottom  of 
the  dale  was  besprinkled  with  them  on  either  side 
of  the  stream,  and  some  stood  in  the  very  stream 
itself,  the  ground  whereof  was  black  even  as  the  rest 
of  the  valley,  although  the  water  ran  over  it  as 
clear  as  glass. 

As  for  the  dale,  now  she  was  fairly  within  it, 
she  could  see  but  a  little  way  up  it,  for  it  winded 
much,  and  at  first  away  from  her  left  hand,  and 
the  sides  of  it  went  up  in  somewhat  steep  screes  on 
either  side,  which  were  topped  with  mere  upright 
staves  and  burgs  of  black  rock  ;  and  these  were 
specially  big  and  outthrusting  on  the  right  hand  of 
her  ;  and  but  a  furlong  ahead  of  where  she  was,  one 
of  these  burgs  thrust  out  past  the  scree  and  came 
down  sheer  into  the  dale,  and  straitened  it  so  much 
that  there  was  but  little  way  save  by  the  stream 
itself,  which  ran  swift  indeed,  but  not  deep,  even 
there  where  it  was  straitened  by  the  sheer  rocks. 

But  up  the  dale  would  she  go,  whatever  was  be- 
fore her ;  and  now  she  told  herself  her  very  pur- 
pose, as  forsooth  she  scarce  had  heretofore  ;  to  wit, 
that  she  would  abide  in  the  dale  the  night  over 

15 


226     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  see  what  should  betide,  and  if  those  wights 
should  chance  to  come  alive,  then  she  looked  to 
have  valiance  enough  to  face  them  and  crave  the 
fulfilment  of  her  desire. 

So  she  took  the  water  and  rode  the  stream  till 
she  was  past  the  said  sheer  rock,  and  then  the  val- 
ley widened  again,  and  presently  was  wider  than 
it  was  in  the  beginning ;  and  here  again  were  the 
Greywethers  grown  many  more  and  closer  together, 
and,  as  she  deemed,  were  set  in  rings  round  about 
one  very  big  one,  which,  forsooth,  was  somewhat 
in  the  shape  of  a  man  sitting  down  with  his  hands 
laid  on  his  knees. 

Birdalone  reined  up  for  a  minute,  and  looked 
about  her,  and  then  went  up  on  to  the  grass,  and 
rode  straight  to  the  said  big  stone,  and  there  lighted 
down  from  off  her  horse  again,  and  stood  by  the 
stone  and  pondered.  Presently  she  deemed  that 
she  saw  something  dark  moving  just  beyond  the 
stone,  but  if  it  were  so,  it  was  gone  in  a  twinkling ; 
nevertheless  she  stood  affrighted,  and  stared  before 
her  long,  and  saw  no  more,  but  yet  for  a  while 
durst  not  move  hand  nor  foot. 

At  last  her  courage  came  again,  and  she  thought: 
Yet  how  if  this  great  chieftain  be  inwardly  stirring 
and  will  come  awake  ?  Shall  I  say  the  word  now, 
lest  hereafter  it  be  of  no  avail  ?  Therewith  she 
stretched  out  her  right  hand  and  laid  it  on  the 
stone,  and  spake  aloud  :  O  Earth,  thou  and  thy 
first  children,  I  crave  of  you  that  he  may  come 
back  now  at  once  and  loving  me.  And  her  voice 
sounded  strange  and  unkent  to  her  In  that  solitude, 
and  she  rued  it  that  she  had  spoken. 


CHAPTER  X.  HOW  BIRDALONE  FELL 
IN  WITH  A  MAN  IN  THE  BLACK  VAL- 
LEY OF  THE  GREYWETHERS. 

CAME  new  tidings  therewithal ;  for  the  mo- 
ment after  she  had  spoken,  a  tall  man  drew 
out  from  behind  the  big  stone,  and  stood 
before  her  ;  and  at  first  it  was  in  her  mind  that  this 
was  the  very  chieftain  come  alive  for  her,  and  for 
terror  she  was  like  to  swoon  this  time ;  but  he 
spake  nought  a  while,  but  looked  on  her  eagerly 
and  curiously. 

She  came  to  herself  presently,  so  much  that  she 
could  see  him  clearly,  and  was  now  growing  more 
shamefast  than  afraid,  when  she  saw  beyond  doubt 
that  the  man  was  of  the  sons  of  Adam  ;  but  what 
with  her  shame  that  was  now,  and  her  fear  that  had 
been,  she  yet  had  no  might  to  move,  but  stood 
there  pale  and  trembling  like  a  leaf,  and  might 
scarce  keep  her  feet. 

Now  the  new-comer  bowed  before  her  smiling, 
and  said  :  I  ask  thy  pardon,  fair  damsel  (or  indeed 
I  should  say  fairest  damsel),  that  I  have  scared 
thee.  But  sooth  to  say  I  beheld  thee  coming  rid- 
ing, and  even  from  a  little  aloof  I  could  see  that 
nought  which  might  befall  could  ever  make  it  up 
to  me  for  not  seeing  thee  close  at  hand  and  hear- 
ing thee  speak.  Wherefore  I  hid  myself  behind 
the  king's  stone  here ;  and  no  harm  is  done  there- 
by I  trow ;  for  now  I  see  that  the  colour  is  com- 
ing into  thy  cheeks  again,  and  thy  fear  is  gone. 
And   as  for   me,  thou   hast   not  fled  away  from 


228     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

me,  as  thou  wouldst  have  done  had  I  not  hidden 
and  come  on  thee  suddenly  ;  and  then  thou  being 
horsed  and  I  unhorsed,  thou  wouldst  have  escaped 
me,  whereas  now  thou  art  within  reach  of  my  hand. 
Then  he  smiled,  and  said:  Furthermore,  thou  hast 
told  so  little  of  thy  secret  to  this  stony  king  here, 
that  I  am  little  the  wiser  for  thy  word,  and  thou 
the  little  more  betrayed.  Only  this  1  will  say,  that 
if  He  loveth  thee  not.  He  is  more  of  a  fool  than 
I  be. 

He  reached  out  his  hand  to  hers,  but  she  drew 
it  aback,  and  grew  yet  more  ashamed,  and  could 
find  no  word  for  him.  His  voice  was  soft  and  full, 
and  he  spake  deftly,  but  she  was  not  content  with 
it  for  its  kindness,  as  she  had  been  with  all  the 
other  men  whom  she  had  met  since  she  left  the 
House  under  the  Wood,  and  she  durst  not  trust 
her  hand  to  him. 

As  for  his  aspect,  she  saw  that  he  was  tall  and  well- 
knit,  and  goodly  of  fashion ;  dark-haired,  with  long 
hazel  eyes,  smooth-cheeked  and  bright-skinned ; 
his  nose  long,  and  a  little  bent  over  at  the  end, 
and  coming  down  close  to  his  lips,  which  were 
full  and  red ;  his  face  was  hairless  save  for  a  little 
lip-beard.  He  was  so  clad,  that  he  had  no  helm 
on  his  head,  but  a  little  hat  with  a  broad  gold  piece 
in  the  front  thereof;  he  was  girt  to  a  long  sword, 
and  had  an  anlace  also  in  his  belt,  and  Birdalone 
saw  the  rings  of  a  fine  hauberk  at  his  collar  and 
knees ;  otherwise  he  was  not  armed.  Over  his 
hauberk  he  wore  a  black  surcoat,  without  device 
of  any  kind,  and  his  foot  and  leg  gear  were  of  the 


OF   THE   DAYS   OF   ABIDING  229 

same  hue;  wherefore  may  we  call  him  the  Black 
Knight.  Sooth  to  say,  for  all  his  soft  speech,  she 
feared  him  and  rued  the  meeting  of  him. 

Now  he  spake  to  her  again :  I  see  that  thou  art 
wroth  with  me,  lady  ;  but  mayhappen  it  is  not  so 
ill  that  I  have  happened  on  thee  ;  for  this  dale  hath 
a  bad  name  for  more  than  one  thing,  and  is  scarce 
meet  for  damsels  to  wander  in.  But  now  since  thou 
hast  a  weaponed  man  with  thee,  and  thou,  by  All- 
hallows  !  not  utterly  unarmed,  thou  mayst  well  go 
up  the  valley  and  see  something  more  thereof  So 
come  now,  mount  thine  horse  again,  and  I  will  lead 
him  for  thee. 

Now  Birdalone  found  speech  and  said  :  Knight, 
for  such  thou  seemest  to  me,  I  deem  now  that  I 
have  no  need  to  fare  further  in  this  dale,  but  I  will 
get  me  into  the  saddle  and  turn  my  horse's  head 
outward  again,  giving  thee  good  day  first  and  thank- 
ing thee  for  thy  courtesy.  And  therewith  she  turned 
to  get  to  her  palfrey,  but  sore  trembling  the  while  ; 
but  he  followed  her  and  said,  with  brow  somewhat 
knitted  :  Nay,  lady,  I  have  left  my  horse  somewhat 
further  up,  and  I  must  go  back  to  fetch  him,  that 
we  may  wend  out  of  the  dale  together.  For  I  will 
not  suiFer  thee  to  flee  from  me  and  fall  into  the 
hands  of  evil  wights,  be  they  ghosts  or  living  men, 
and  that  the  less  since  I  have  heard  the  speech  in 
thy  mouth,  as  of  honey  and  cream  and  roses. 
Therefore  if  thou  go  out  of  the  dale,  I  shall  go  with  ' 
thee  afoot,  leading  thine  horse.  And  look  to  it  if 
it  be  courteous  to  unhorse  a  knight,  who  is  ready 
to  be  thy  servant.    Moreover,  since  thou  hast  come 


230     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

to  this  dale  of  wonder,  and  mayst  leave  it  safely, 
pity  it  were  that  thou  shouldst  see  nought  thereof, 
for  strange  is  it  forsooth,  and  belike  thou  shalt  never 
seek  thither  again.  Wherefore  I  crave  of  thee,  once 
more,  to  mount  thine  horse  and  let  me  lead  thee 
up  the  dale. 

He  spake  these  last  words  rather  as  one  giving 
a  command  than  making  a  prayer,  and  Birdalone 
feared  him  now  sorely.  Forsooth  she  had  her 
bended  bow  in  hand  ;  but  let  alone  that  the  knight 
was  over-near  to  her  that  she  might  get  a  shaft  out 
of  her  quiver  and  nock  it,  ere  he  should  run  in  on 
her,  and  let  alone  also  that  he  was  byrnied,  she 
scarce  deemed  that  it  behoved  her  to  slay  or  wound 
the  man  because  she  would  be  quit  of  him.  Where- 
fore angrily,  and  with  a  flushed  face,  she  answered 
him  :  So  shall  it  be  then.  Sir  Knight;  or  rather  so 
must  it  be,  since  thou  compellest  me. 

He  laughed  and  said :  Nay,  now  thou  art  angry. 
I  compel  thee  not,  I  but  say  that  it  will  not  do  for 
thee  to  compel  me  to  leave  thee.  Go  which  way 
thou  wilt,  up  the  dale,  or  down  it  and  out  of  it;  it 
is  all  one  unto  me,  so  long  as  I  am  with  thee.  For- 
sooth, damsel,  I  have  said  harder  words  to  ladies 
who  have  done  my  pleasure  and  not  deemed  them- 
selves compelled. 

She  paled  but  answered  nought ;  then  she 
mounted  her  palfrey,  and  the  knight  went  to  her 
bridle-rein  without  more  words,  and  so  led  her  on 
up  the  valley  by  the  easiest  way  amongst  the  Grey- 
wethers. 


CHAPTER    XI.      BIRDALONE    IS    LED 
UP  THE  BLACK  VALLEY. 

AS  they  went,  the  knight  fell  a-talking  to 
Birdalone,  and  that  without  any  of  the  covert 
jeering  which  he  had  used  erewhile;  and  he 
showed  her  places  in  the  dale,  as  caverns  under  the 
burgs,  and  little  eyots  in  the  stream,  and  certain 
stones  amongst  the  Greywethers  whereof  stories 
ran ;  and  how  this  and  the  other  one  had  fared  in 
dealings  with  the  land-wights,  and  how  one  had 
perished,  and  another  had  been  made  happy,  and 
so  forth.  Withal  he  told  of  the  mountain-folk, 
and  in  especial  how  they  of  the  plains,  when  he  was 
scarce  more  than  a  boy,  had  met  them  in  battle  in 
that  same  dale,  and  how  fierce  the  fight  was  ;  where- 
as the  mountain-men  were  fighting  for  a  life  of 
desires  accomplished,  which  hitherto  had  been  but 
a  dream  unto  them ;  and  the  men  of  the  plain  fought 
for  dear  life  itself,  and  for  all  that  made  it  aught 
save  death  in  life.  Wherefore  up  and  down  the 
dale  they  fought,  at  first  in  ordered  ranks  and  then 
in  knots,  and  lastly  sword  to  sword  and  man  to  man, 
till  there  was  no  foot  of  grass  or  black  sand  there 
which  had  not  its  shower  of  blood  ;  and  the  stream 
was  choked  with  the  dead,  and  ran  red  out  of  the 
dale ;  till  at  last  well-nigh  all  the  host  of  the  moun- 
tain-men was  fallen,  and  scarce  less  of  the  folk  of 
the  plains,  but  these  men  held  the  field  and  had 
the  victory. 

All  this  he  told  her  deftly  and  well,  and  though 
he   said   not  so  right  out,  yet  let  her   wot   that, 


232     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

youth  as  he  was,  he  was  of  the  battle  ;  and  his  voice 
was  clear  and  good,  and  Birdalone's  wrath  ran  off 
her,  and  she  hearkened  his  tale,  and  even  asked 
him  a  question  here  and  there ;  and  so  courteous 
was  this  Black  Knight  now  become,  that  Birdalone 
began  to  think  that  she  had  fallen  short  of  courtesy 
to  him,  because  of  her  fear  and  the  weariness  of  the 
waiting  which  so  oppressed  her ;  and  that  shamed 
and  irked  her,  for  she  would  fain  be  of  all  courtesy. 
Wherefore  now  she  deemed  that  perchance  she  had 
erred  in  deeming  him  an  evil  man  ;  and  she  looked 
on  him  from  time  to  time,  and  deemed  him  goodly 
of  fashion  ;  she  thought  his  eyes  were  deep,  and  his 
face  sober  and  fair  of  aspect,  but  that  his  nose  turned 
down  at  the  end,  and  was  over  thin  at  the  bridge, 
and  moreover  his  lips  looked  over-sweet  and 
licorous. 

Now  when  the  knight  was  silent  of  his  tales.  Bird- 
alone  fell  to  asking  him  questions  sweetly  concern- 
ing this  Stony  People  which  was  all  about  them  ; 
and  he  told  her  all  he  knew,  soberly  enough  at 
first,  yet  indeed  ended  by  mocking  them  somewhat, 
but  mocked  not  at  her  any  more.  At  last  he  said  : 
Fair  lady,  that  thou  hast  not  come  here  all  for 
nought  I  partly  know  by  those  words  which  I  heard 
come  from  thy  mouth  at  the  King's  Stone  ;  where- 
fore I  marvelled  indeed  when  I  heard  thee  say  that 
thou  wouldst  go  straight  out  of  the  dale  ;  for  I  had 
deemed  thee  desirous  of  trying  the  adventure  of 
waking  this  Stony  People  a-night-tide.  Forsooth 
was  this  thy  mind  when  thou  soughtest  hither  to 
the  dale  ? 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  233 

She  reddened  at  his  word,  and  yeasald  him 
shortly.  Then  said  he:  Is  it  not  thy  mind  still  ? 
Sir,  said  she,  as  now  I  have  got  to  fear  it.  Yea  ? 
and  that  is  strange,  said  he,  for  thou  wouldst  have 
waked  the  dale  alone  ;  and  now  thou  art  no  longer 
alone,  but  hast  me  to  watch  and  ward  thy  waking, 
thou  art  more  afeard. 

She  looked  on  his  face  steadily,  to  wot  if  there 
were  no  half-hidden  smile  therein  ;  but  herseemed 
that  he  spake  in  all  soberness  ;  and  she  had  nought 
to  say  to  him  save  this  :  Sir,  I  am  now  become 
afraid  of  the  waking.  And  he  said  no  more 
thereof 

Now  they  went  thus,  and  Birdalone  not  without 
pleasure,  since  her  fear  of  the  knight  was  minished, 
some  three  hours  up  the  dale,  and  still  were  the 
Greywethers  everywhere  about  them,  so  that  there 
were  well-nigh  as  many  hours  as  miles  in  their 
wending. 

At  last  they  seemed  to  be  drawing  nigh  to  the 
head  of  the  dale,  and  the  burgs  and  the  rocks  were 
before  them  all  round  it  as  a  wall,  though  yet  about 
a  mile  aloof  at  the  further  end  ;  and  this  end  it  was 
wider  than  elsewhere. 

Came  they  then  to  a  level  space  of  greensward 
clear  of  the  grey  stones,  which  were  drawn  all  around 
it  in  ordered  rings,  so  that  it  was  as  some  doom- 
ring  of  an  ancient  people  ;  and  within  the  said  space 
Birdalone  beheld  a  great  black  horse  tethered  and 
cropping  the  grass.  The  knight  led  her  into  the 
ring,  and  said  :  Now  are  we  come  home  for  the 
present,  my  lady,  and  if  it  please  thee  to  light  down 


234     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

we  shall  presently  eat  and  drink,  and  sithence  talk 
a  little.  And  he  drew  nigh  to  help  her  off  her 
horse,  but  she  suffered  him  not,  and  lighted  down 
of  herself;  but  if  she  suffered  not  his  hand,  his  eyes 
she  must  needs  suffer,  as  he  gazed  greedily  on  the 
trimness  of  her  feet  and  legs  in  her  sliding  from 
her  horse. 

Howsoever,  he  took  her  hand,  and  led  her  to  a 
little  mound  on  the  other  side  of  the  ring,  and  bade 
her  sit  down  there,  and  so  did  she,  and  from  under 
the  nighest  of  the  stones  he  drew  forth  a  pair  of 
saddle-bags,  and  took  victual  and  wine  thence,  and 
they  ate  and  drank  together  like  old  companions. 
And  now  Birdalone  told  herself  that  the  knight  was 
frank  and  friendly  ;  yet  forsooth  she  wotted  that 
her  heart  scarce  trowed  what  it  feigned,  and  that 
she  yet  feared  him. 


CHAPTER  XII.  HOW  THOSE  TWAIN 
GET  THEM  FROM  OUT  OF  THE 
BLACK  VALLEY  OF  THE  GREY- 
WETHERS. 

WHEN  they  had  dined,  and  had  sat  a  while 
talking,  the  knight  said :  I  will  ask  thee 
once  more  wherefore  thou  must  needs 
depart  from  this  dale  leaving  the  Greywethers  un- 
waked?  Yet  this  must  I  tell  thee  first,  that  this 
ring  at  the  dale's  end  is  the  only  one  due  place 
where  the  Greywethers  can  be  rightly  waked,  and 
that  there  be  few  who  wot  this.  Wilt  thou  not  tell 
me  then  what  is  in  thy  mind  ? 

Birdalone  gazed  down  on  the  ground  a  while  ; 
then  she  lifted  up  her  head  and  looked  on  the  Black 
Knight, and  said :  Sir  Knight,  we  have  been  brought 
so  close  together  to-day,  and  as  meseemeth  I  am 
so  wholly  in  thy  power,  that  I  will  tell  thee  the  very 
truth  as  it  is.  My  mind  it  was  to  wake  the  dale 
here  to-night,  and  take  what  might  befall  me.  And 
well  indeed  might  I  fear  the  adventure,  which  few, 
meseemeth,  would  not  fear.  But  so  strong  is  my 
longing  for  that  which  I  would  crave  of  these  wights, 
that  it  overmastered  my  fear,  and  my  purpose  held 
when  I  entered  the  dale.  Then  I  met  thee ;  and 
here  again  is  the  truth,  take  it  how  thou  wilt,  that 
presently  I  feared  thee,  and  yet  I  fear  thee  ;  for  I 
have  noted  thee  closely  all  this  while,  and  have  seen 
of  thee,  that  thou  art  over  heedful  of  my  poor  body, 
and  wouldst  have  it  for  thine  own  if  thou  mightest. 
And  there  is  this  in  thee  also,  as  I  deem,  though 


236     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

thou  thyself  mayst  not  know  it,  that  thou  wouldst 
have  thy  pleasure  of  me  whether  it  pleasure  me 
or  grieve  me  ;  and  this  thy  pleasure  must  I  needs 
gainsay  ;  for  though  thou  mayest  hereafter  become 
my  friend,  yet  are  there  other  friends  of  mine,  who 
be  such,  that  my  grief  would  mar  any  pleasure  they 
might  have.     Hast  thou  heard  and  understood  ? 

She  looked  on  his  face  steadily  as  she  spake,  and 
saw  that  it  flushed,  and  darkened,  and  scowled,  and 
that  his  hands  were  clenched,  and  his  teeth  set  hard 
together.  And  again  she  spake  :  Sir,  thou  shalt 
know  that  beside  these  shot-weapons,  I  have  a  thing 
here  in  my  girdle  that  may  serve  either  against  thee 
or  against  me,  if  need  drive  me  thereto  ;  wherefore 
I  will  pray  thee  to  forbear.  Forsooth,  thou  shalt 
presently  happen  on  other  women,  who  shall  be 
better  unto  thee  than  I  can  be. 

By  then  Birdalone  had  spoken  the  word,  the 
knight's  face  had  cleared,  and  he  laughed  aloud  and 
said  :  As  to  thy  last  words,  therein  at  least  thou 
liest,  my  lady.  But  for  the  rest,  I  see  that  it  must 
all  be  as  thou  wiliest.  Yea,  if  such  be  thy  will,  we 
shall  presently  to  horse  and  ride  down  the  dale  again, 
and  at  the  end  thereof  I  shall  leave  thee  to  go  home 
alone  at  thy  will.  She  said  :  For  that  I  can  thee 
thanks  with  all  my  heart.  But  why  hast  thou  not 
asked  me  of  whence  I  am,  and  whither  I  would  go 
home? 

Again  he  laughed  and  said:  Because  I  know 
already.  I  have  had  more  than  two  or  three  tales 
from  them  who  have  seen  thee,  or  spoken  unto 
others  who  have  seen  thee,  how  the  gay  Champions 


OF   THE   DAYS    OF   ABIDING  237 

of  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  had  fished  up  a  wondrous 
pearl  of  price  from  out  of  the  Great  Water ;  and 
when  I  set  eyes  on  thy  beauty,  I  knew  that  the 
said  pearl  could  be  nowhere  else  than  under  mine 
eyes. 

Let  that  pass,  she  said,  and  blushed  not ;  but 
now  tell  me  the  truth  as  I  have  told  thee,  why  thou 
art  so  instant  with  me  to  wake  the  Greywethers  to- 
night ?  Fie  kept  silence  a  while,  and,  as  she  looked 
on  him,  she  thought  she  saw  confusion  in  his  face  ; 
but  at  last  he  said  :  Thou  wert  wrong  in  saying  that 
I  heeded  not  thy  pleasure,  and  solace,  and  welfare. 
Meseemed,  and  yet  doth,  that  it  might  be  to  thine 
avail  to  wake  the  Greywethers  to-night ;  and  never 
again  mayst  thou  have  a  chance  of  the  waking,  as 
erst  I  said.  I  say  I  wish  thee  to  have  fulfilment 
of  thy  craving.  Nor  hast  thou  aught  to  fear  of 
them,  seeing  that  it  is  but  dastards  and  fools  that 
they  undo. 

He  broke  off  his  speech,  and  Birdalone  yet 
looked  on  him,  and  after  a  little  he  said  :  Thou 
drawest  the  truth  out  of  me  ;  for  moreover  I  would 
have  thee  with  me  longer  than  thou  wouldst  be  if  we 
but  rode  together  down  the  water  and  out  of  the 
dale,  and  thou  to  fare  away  alone. 

Birdalone  spake  in  a  while,  and  that  while  he 
gazed  upon  her  eagerly ;  she  said :  I  shall  now  tell 
thee  that  I  shall  abide  the  adventure  of  the  waking 
to-night,  whatever  befall.  And  I,  said  he,  will  so 
do  that  thou  mayst  fear  me  the  less  ;  for  I  will  un- 
arm me  when  the  night  cometh,  and  thou  thyself 
shalt  keep  mine  hauberk  and  sword  and  anlace. 


238     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

She  said :  It  is  well ;  I  will  take  that,  lest  desire 
overmaster  thee. 

They  spake  no  more  of  it  at  that  time,  and  it 
was  now  five  hours  after  noon.  Birdalone  arose, 
for  she  found  it  hard  to  sit  still  and  abide  nightfall : 
she  went  without  the  two  first  rings  of  the  Grey- 
wethers,  which  were  set  in  more  open  order  beyond 
that,  and  she  looked  all  about  her,  to  the  black 
rocks  on  either  side,  and  to  the  great  black  wall  at 
the  dale's  ending,  and  the  blue  mountains  aloof  be- 
yond it ;  then  down  toward  the  plain  of  the  dale 
came  her  eyes,  and  she  looked  through  the  tangle 
of  the  grey  stones.  Now  she  seemed  to  be  look- 
ing more  intently  upon  some  one  thing  ;  with  that 
she  called  to  her  the  Black  Knight,  who  was  hang- 
ing about  watching  her,  and  she  said  to  him  :  Fair 
sir,  art  thou  clear-seeing  and  far-seeing  ?  I  am  not 
thought  to  be  purblind,  quoth  he.  Then  Bird- 
alone  reached  out  her  hand  and  pointed  and  said : 
Canst  thou  see  aught  which  thou  didst  not  look  to 
see,  there,  up  the  dale  as  I  point  ?  Said  he :  All 
too  clear  I  see  the  hand  and  the  wrist  of  thee,  and 
that  blinds  me  to  aught  else.  I  pray  thee  fool  not, 
she  said,  but  look  heedfuUy,  and  thou  mayst  see 
what  I  see,  and  then  tell  me  what  it  means.  Though 
forsooth  I  am  exceeding  in  far  sight. 

He  looked  under  the  sharp  of  his  hand  heed- 
fully,  then  he  turned  unto  her  and  said  :  By  All- 
hallows  !  there  is  in  thee  every  excellency  !  Thou 
art  right ;  I  see  a  bay  horse  up  there  feeding  on 
the  bites  of  grass  amongst  the  Greywethers.  Look 
again  !  she  said ;  what  else  canst  thou  see  ?   Is  there 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF   ABIDING  239 

aught  anigh  to  the  bay  horse  which  is  like  to  the 
gleam  and  glitter  of  metal.  Christ !  said  he,  once 
more  thou  art  right.  There  be  weaponed  men  in 
the  dale.  Tarry  not,  I  beseech  thee,  but  get  to 
horse  forthright,  and  I  will  do  no  less. 

There  goeth  the  waking  of  the  dale  for  this  time, 
said  Birdalone,  laughing.  But  art  thou  not  in  haste, 
fair  sir.''  may  not  these  be  friends? 

The  knight  laid  his  hand  upon  her  shoulder,  and 
thrust  her  on  toward  her  palfrey,  and  spake  fiercely, 
but  not  loud :  Thee  I  pray  not  to  fool  now !  There 
is  not  a  minute  to  spare.  If  thou  deemest  me  evil, 
as  I  think  thou  dost,  there  are  worser  than  I,  I  tell 
thee,  there  are  worser.  But  we  will  talk  of  it  when 
we  be  in  the  saddle,  and  clear  of  this  accursed 
dale. 

Birdalone  knew  not  what  to  do  save  obey  him, 
so  she  lightly  gat  into  her  saddle,  and  followed  him, 
for  he  was  mounted  in  a  twinkling,  and  riding  on. 
He  led  out  of  the  ring,  and  fell  to  threading  the 
maze  of  the  Greywethers,  keeping  ever  toward  the 
steep  side  of  the  dale,  which  was  on  that  hand  that 
looked  toward  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  that  is  to 
say,  the  eastern  bent.  Birdalone  wondered  at  this 
leading,  and  when  she  was  come  up  with  the  knight 
she  spake  to  him  breathlessly,  and  said :  But,  fair 
sir,  why  wend  we  not  down  the  dale  ?  He  answered : 
First,  lady,  because  we  must  hide  us  from  them 
straightway;  and  next  because  they  be  more  than 
we,  many  more,  and  their  horses  be  fresh,  while 
thine  at  least  is  somewhat  spent;  and  if  they  were 
to  spur  down  the  dale  in  chase,  they  would  soon 


240     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

be  upon  us  ;  for  think  not  that  I  would  escape  and 
leave  thee  behind. 

Said  Birdalone :  But  thou  knowest  them,  then, 
what  they  be  ?  since  thou  wottest  of  their  numbers 
and  their  riding.  Hearken  now  !  Upon  thy  soul 
and  thy  salvation,  be  they  more  friends  unto  thee 
than  unto  me  ? 

He  said,  as  he  rode  on  a  little  slower  than  erst: 
Upon  my  soul  and  my  salvation  I  swear  it,  that 
the  men  yonder  be  of  the  worst  unfriends  to  thee 
that  may  be  in  the  world.  And  now,  lady,  I  prom- 
ise thee  that  I  will  unravel  thee  the  riddle,  and  tell 
thee  the  whole  truth  of  these  haps,  whatsoever  may 
come  of  my  words,  when  we  be  in  a  safer  place  than 
this  ;  and  meantime  I  beseech  thee  to  trust  in  me 
thus  far,  as  to  believe  that  I  am  leading  thee  out 
of  the  very  worst  peril  that  might  befall  thee.  Nay, 
thou  must  needs  trust  me ;  for  I  tell  thee,  that 
though  I  now  love  thee  better  than  all  the  world 
and  all  that  is  in  it,  I  would  slay  thee  here  in  this 
dale  rather  than  suffer  thee  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
these  men. 

Birdalone  heard  him  with  a  sick  heart;  but  such 
passion  went  with  his  words  that  she  believed  what 
he  said ;  and  she  spake  softly :  Sir,  I  will  trust  thee 
thus  far;  but  I  beseech  thee  to  have  pity  upon  a 
poor  maiden  who  hath  had  but  little  pity  shown 
unto  her  until  these  latter  days ;  and  then :  O  woe 's 
me,  to  have  fallen  out  of  the  kindness  and  love 
once  more  ! 

The  Black  Knight  spake  to  her  in  a  little  while, 
and  said  :  What  pity   I   can  to  thee,  that  I  will. 


OF   THE   DAYS    OF    ABIDING  241 

Once  more  I  tell  thee,  that  if  thou  but  knew  it  thou 
wouldst  thank  me  indeed  for  what  I  have  done  for 
thee  in  this  hour  ;  and  henceforth  I  will  do  and 
forbear  with  thee  to  the  uttermost  that  love  will 
suffer  me.  But  lo  thou  !  here  are  we  safe  for  this 
present ;  but  we  must  nowise  tarry. 

Birdalone  looked  and  saw  that  they  were  come 
to  the  wall  of  the  dale,  and  that  there  it  went  down 
sheer  to  the  plain  thereof,  and  that  before  them 
was  a  cleft  that  narrowed  speedily,  and  over  which 
the  rocks  well-nigh   met,  so   that   it  was  indeed 
almost  a  cave.    They  rode  into  it  straightway,  and 
when  that  they  had  gone  but  a  little,  and  because 
it  had  winded  somewhat,  they  could  but  see  the 
main  valley  as  a  star  of  light  behind  them,  then  it 
narrowed  no  more,  but  was  as  a  dismal  street  of 
the  straitest,  whiles  lighter  and  whiles  darker,  ac- 
cording as  the  rocks  roofed  it  in  overhead  or  drew 
away  from  it.      Long  they  rode,  and  whiles  came 
trickles  of  water  from  out  the  rocks  on  one  hand 
or  the  other  ;  and  now  and  again  they  met  a  stream 
which  covered  all  the  ground  of  the  pass  from  side 
to  side  for  the  depth  of  a  foot  or  more.     Great 
rocks  also  were  strewn  over  their  path  every  here 
and  there,  so  that  whiles  must  they  needs  dismount 
and  toil  afoot  over  the  rugged  stones  ;  and  in  most 
places  the  way  was  toilsome  and  difficult.     The 
knight  spake  little  to  Birdalone,  save  to  tell  her  of 
the  way,  and  warn  her  where  it  was  perilous;  and 
she,  for  her  part,  was  silent,  partly  for  fear  of  the 
strange  man,  or,  it  might  be,  even  for  hatred  of  him, 
who  had  thus  brought  her  into  such  sore  trouble, 

16 


242     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  partly  for  grief.  For,  with  all  torment  of  sor- 
row, she  kept  turning  over  and  over  in  her  mind 
whether  her  friends  had  yet  come  home  to  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  whether  they  would  go 
seek  her  to  deliver  her.  And  such  shame  took 
hold  of  her  when  she  thought  of  their  grief  and 
confusion  of  soul  when  they  should  come  home  and 
find  her  gone,  that  she  set  her  mind  to  asking  if 
it  had  not  been  better  had  she  never  met  them. 
Yet  in  good  sooth  her  mind  would  not  shape  the 
thought,  howsoever  she  bade  it. 


CHAPTER  XIII.  NOW  THEY  REST 
FOR  THE  NIGHT  IN  THE  STRAIT 
PASS. 

AT  last,  when  they  had  been  going  a  long 
while,  it  might  be  some  six  hours,  and  it  had 
long  been  night  in  the  world  without,  but 
moon-lit,  and  they  had  rested  but  seldom,  and  then 
but  for  short  whiles,  the  knight  drew  rein  and  spake 
to  Birdalone,  and  asked  her  was  she  not  weary.  O 
yea,  she  said  ;  I  was  at  point  to  pray  thee  suffer  me 
to  get  off  and  lie  down  on  the  bare  rock.  To  say 
sooth,  I  am  now  too  weary  to  think  of  any  peril, 
or  what  thou  art,  or  whither  we  be  going.  He  said : 
By  my  deeming  we  be  now  half  through  this  moun- 
tain highway,  and  belike  there  is  little  peril  in  our 
resting  ;  for  I  think  not  that  any  one  of  them  know- 
eth  of  this  pass,  or  would  dare  it  if  he  did  ;  and  they 
doubtless  came  into  the  dale  by  the  upper  pass, 
which  is  strait  enough,  but  light  and  open. 

As  he  spoke,  Birdalone  bowed  forward  on  her 
horse's  neck,  and  would  have  fallen  but  that  he 
stayed  her.  Then  he  lifted  her  off  her  horse,  and 
laid  her  down  in  the  seemliest  place  he  might  find  ; 
and  the  pass  there  was  much  widened,  and  such  light 
as  there  was  in  the  outer  world  came  down  freely 
into  it,  though  it  were  but  of  the  moon  and  the  stars ; 
and  the  ground  was  rather  sandy  than  rocky.  So 
he  dight  Birdalone's  bed  as  well  as  he  might,  and 
did  off  his  surcoat  and  laid  it  over  her ;  and  then 
stood  aloof,  and  gazed  on  her ;  and  he  muttered : 
It  is  an  evil  chance  ;  yet  the  pleasure  of  it,  the  pleas- 


244     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

ure  of  it!  Yea,  said  he  again,  she  might  well  be 
wearied  ;  I  myself  am  ready  to  drop,  and  I  am  not 
the  least  tough  of  the  band.  And  therewith  he 
laid  him  down  on  the  further  side  of  the  pass,  and 
fell  asleep  straightway. 


CHAPTER  XIV.     THE  BLACK  KNIGHT 
TELLS   THE   TRUTH    OF    HIMSELF. 

WHEN  the  morning  was  come  down  into 
the  straitness  of  their  secret  road.  Bird- 
alone  opened  her  eyes  and  saw  the  Black 
Knight  busy  over  dighting  their  horses  :  so  she  arose 
and  thrust  her  grief  back  into  her  heart,  and  gave  her 
fellow-farer  the  sele  of  the  day,  and  he  brought  her 
victual,  and  they  ate  a  morsel,  and  gat  to  horse  there- 
after and  departed  ;  and  the  way  became  smoother, 
and  it  was  lighter  overhead  everywhere  now,  and  the 
rocks  never  again  met  overhead  athwart  the  way  ; 
and  it  seemed  to  Birdalone  that  now  they  were 
wending  somewhat  downward. 

The  knight  was  courteous  unto  Birdalone,  and 
no  longer  for  the  present  thrust  his  love  upon  her, 
so  that  now  she  had  some  solace  of  his  fellowship, 
though  he  was  but  few-spoken  to  her. 

It  was  betimes  when  they  arose,  and  they  rode 
all  the  morning  till  it  was  noon,  which  they  might 
well  wot  of,  because  the  way  was  much  wider,  and 
the  clifF-walls  of  the  pass  much  lower,  so  that  the 
sun  shone  in  upon  them  and  cheered  them. 

Now  the  Black  Knight  drew  rein  and  said  :  Shall 
we  rest,  lady,  and  eat  ?  And  thereafter,  if  thou 
wilt,  I  shall  tell  thee  my  tale.  Or  rather,  if  thou 
wilt  suffer  me,  I  shall  speak  first  and  eat  after- 
wards, or  else  the  morsel  might  stick  in  my  throat. 
Knight,  said  Birdalone,  smiling,  I  hope  thou  hast 
no  lie  to  swallow  down  before  the  meat.  Nay,  lady, 
said  he ;  no  lie  that  is  of  moment  at  least. 


246     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

So  they  lighted  down,  and  Birdalone  sat  on  the 
wayside  under  a  birch-bush  that  came  thrusting  out 
from  the  rock,  and  the  knight  stood  before  her, 
hanging  his  head,  as  though  he  were  one  accused 
who  would  plead  his  cause ;  and  he  began  : 

Lady,  I  must  tell  thee  first  of  all,  that  to-day  I 
have  done  as  an  unfaithful  servant  and  a  traitor  to 
my  lord.  Said  Birdalone  simply :  Shall  I  tell  thee 
the  truth,  and  say  that  from  the  first  I  seemed  to 
see  in  thee  that  thou  wert  scarce  trusty  ?  He  said  : 
Well,  that  mind  I  saw  in  thee,  and  it  went  to  my 
heart  that  thou  shouldest  think  it,  and  that  it 
should  be  no  less  than  true.  But  now  I  must  tell 
thee,  that  it  is  for  thy  sake  that  I  have  been  un- 
trusty  to  my  lord.  How  so  ?  said  she.  Quoth 
he  :  Heardest  thou  ever  of  the  Red  Knight  ?  Yea, 
said  Birdalone,  I  have  heard  of  him  ever  as  a  tyrant 
and  oppressor.  Then  she  grew  pale,  and  said  : 
Art  thou  he  ?  Nay,  said  the  knight,  I  am  but 
a  kinsman  of  his,  and  his  best-trusted  man;  nor 
have  I  failed  him  ever  till  yesterday. 

He  kept  silence  a  while,  and  then  said :  This  is  the 
true  tale :  that  we  have  had  tidings  of  thee  and  of  thy 
ridings  abroad  with  that  old  fool,  Sir  Aymeris,  and 
how  thou  hadst  been  twice  to  look  into  the  Black 
Valley.  This  I  say  hath  the  Red  One  heard,  and 
the  heart  of  him  was  touched  by  the  mere  hearsay 
of  thee  ;  and  moreover  'tis  blessed  bread  to  him  the 
doing  of  any  grief  to  the  knights  of  Quest  Castle  ; 
wherefore  he  hath  sent  me  to  hang  about  the  dale, 
to  lay  hands  on  thee  if  I  might ;  for  he  knew,  being 
wise,  that  thou  wouldst  hanker  after  it ;  and  more- 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF   ABIDING  247 

over  he  let  one  of  his  wise  women  sit  out  in  spells 
on  thee.  So  I  espied,  and  happened  on  thee  all 
alone  ;  and  mine  errand  it  was,  since  I  came  upon 
thee  thus,  to  draw  thee  till  I  had  thee  safe  at  home 
in  the  Red  Hold.  Forsooth  I  began  mine  errand 
duly,  and  fell  to  beguiling  thee,  so  that  thou  mayst 
well  have  seen  the  traitor  in  me.  But  then,  and 
then  my  heart  failed  me,  because  I  fell,  not  to  desir- 
ing thee  as  coveting  my  master's  chattel,  but  to 
loving  thee  and  longing  for  thee  as  my  fellow  and 
speech-friend.  And  I  said  to  myself:  Into  the  Red 
Hold  she  shall  not  go  if  I  may  hinder  it. 

Birdalone  was  very  pale,  but  she  refrained  her 
from  grief  and  fear,  and  said  :  But  those  horsed  and 
weaponed  men  up  the  dale,  who  were  they  ?  He 
said  :  I  will  not  lie  now,  not  even  a  little  ;  they  came 
into  the  dale  by  that  upper  pass  whereof  I  told  thee ; 
they  were  of  our  men  ;  I  brought  them.  I  was  never 
all  alone  in  the  dale  ;  I  was  to  have  fetched  thee  to 
them,  so  that  thou  mightest  not  see  a  rout  of  folk 
and  flee  away  ;  and  then  would  we  all  have  gone 
home  together  by  the  upper  pass.  But  we  two 
must  have  gone  on  unto  them  in  the  dale's  head, 
whereas  for  all  that  I  could  say  I  might  not  bring 
them  down  into  that  doom-ring  where  we  ate  and 
talked  yesterday.  We  two  have  been  valianter 
than  thou  mayst  have  deemed,  to  have  done  the 
deed  of  dining  there  ;  for  all  men  fear  it.  But  as 
for  me,  I  have  been  there  more  than  twice  or  thrice, 
and  thence  have  I  wandered,  and  found  this  pass 
wherein  now  we  be;  concerning  which  I  have  held 
my  tongue,  deeming  that  it  might  one  day  serve 


248     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

my  turn  ;  as  it  hath  done  now  abundantly,  since  it 
hath  been  a  refuge  unto  thee. 

Yea,  but  whither  are  we  going  now  ?  said  Bird- 
alone  ;  is  it  perchance  to  the  Red  Hold?  Nay, 
never,  said  the  knight,  so  help  me  God  and 
All-hallows  ! 

Whither  then  ?  said  Birdalone  ;  tell  me,  that  I 
may  at  least  trust  thee,  even  though  I  owe  thee  for 
all  the  pain  and  grief  which  thou  hast  wrought  me. 
He  reddened  and  said  :  Wait  a  while  ;  I  bring  thee 
to  no  ill  place ;  there  shall  no  harm  befall  thee. 
And  he  fretted  and  fumed,  and  was  confused  of 
speech  and  look,  and  then  he  said  :  When  we  come 
there  I  shall  belike  crave  a  boon  of  thee. 

O,  but  I  crave  a  boon  of  thee  here  and  now,  said 
Birdalone.  Wipe  away  thine  offence  to  me  and  take 
me  back  to  my  friends  and  the  Castle  of  the  Quest! 
So  mayst  thou  yet  be  dear  unto  me,  though  may- 
be not  wholly  as  thou  wouldst  have  it.  And  she 
reached  out  her  two  hands  toward  him. 

His  breast  heaved,  and  he  seemed  nigh  to  weep- 
ing ;  but  he  said  :  Nay,  lady,  ask  me  not  here  and 
now,  but  there  and  to-morrow.  But  again  I  swear 
to  thee  by  thine  hands  that  to  the  Red  Hold  I  will 
not  bring  thee,  nor  suffer  thee  to  be  brought,  if  I 
may  hinder  it ;  nay,  not  though  I  give  my  life 
therefor. 

Birdalonewassilent  awhile  ;  then  she  said  :  And 
what  shall  befall  me  if  I  come  to  the  Red  Hold  ? 
What  is  the  Red  Knight,  and  what  would  he  do 
with  me  ?  Said  he :  The  Red  Knight  is  terrible 
and  fierce  and  wise ;  and  I  fear  him,  I.     He  held 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF   ABIDING  249 

his  peace,  and  said  :  I  must  needs  say  it,  that  to  thee 
he  would  have  been  as  Death  and  the  Devil.  He 
would  have  bedded  thee  first.  She  broke  in  :  Nay, 
never  !  and  flushed  very  red.  But  the  knight  went 
on  :  And  after,  I  wot  not ;  that  were  according  to 
his  mood.  And  as  to  thy  never,  lady,  thou  wot- 
test  not  the  like  of  him  or  of  the  folk  he  hath  about 
him.  Such  as  thou  ?  she  said  angrily.  Nay,  he 
said,  far  worse  than  me  ;  men  who  fare  little  afield, 
and  are  not  sweetened  by  adventures  and  war-perils ; 
and  women  worser  yet ;  and  far  worser  were  they 
dealing  with  a  woman.  She  was  silent  again  awhile, 
and  paled  once  more ;  then  her  colour  came  back 
to  her,  and  she  held  out  her  hand  to  him  and  said 
kindly  :  Thou  being  what  thou  art,  I  thank  thee  for 
thy  dealings  with  me ;  and  now  until  to-morrow, 
when  I  shall  ask  thee  of  that  again,  I  am  friends 
with  thee ;  so  come  now,  and  let  us  eat  and  drink 
together. 

He  took  her  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  then  came 
and  sat  down  meekly  beside  her,  and  they  ate  and 
drank  in  that  wild  place  as  though  they  had  been 
friends  of  long  acquaintance. 


CHAPTER  XV.  THE  BLACK  KNIGHT 
BRINGS  BIRDALONE  TO  THE  BOWER 
IN  THE  DALE. 

WHEN  they  had  made  an  end  of  their  meal, 
they  gat  to  horse  again  and  rode  on  their 
ways  ;  and  every  mile  now  was  their  road 
the  easier,  the  pass  wider,  and  its  walls  lower  and  now 
also  more  broken ;  till  at  last  they  began  to  go  down 
hill  swiftly,  and  after  a  little  their  road  seemed  to  be 
swallowed  in  a  great  thicket  of  hornbeam  and  holly; 
but  the  knight  rode  on  and  entered  the  said  thicket, 
and  ever  found  some  way  amidst  the  branches, 
though  they  were  presently  in  the  very  thick  of  the 
trees,  and  saw  no  daylight  between  the  trunks  for 
well-nigh  an  hour,  whereas  the  wood  was  thick  and 
tangled,  and  they  had  to  thread  their  way  betwixt 
its  mazes. 

At  last  the  wood  began  to  grow  thinner  before 
them,  and  the  white  light  to  show  between  the 
trunks ;  and  Birdalone  deemed  that  she  heard 
the  sound  of  falling  water,  and  presently  was  sure 
thereof;  and  the  knight  spake  to  her :  Patience, 
my  lady  ;  now  are  we  near  home  for  to-day.  She 
nodded  kindly  to  him,  and  therewith  they  rode  on 
to  open  ground,  and  were  on  the  side  of  a  steep  bent, 
broken  on  their  right  hands  into  a  sheer  cliff,  as 
Birdalone  saw  when  the  knight  led  her  to  the  edge 
and  bade  her  look  over.  Then  she  saw  down  into 
a  fair  dale  lying  far  below  them,  through  the  which 
ran  a  little  river,  clear  and  swift,  but  not  riotous, 
after  it  had  fallen  over  a  force  at  the  upper  end  of 


OF   THE   DAYS    OF   ABIDING  25 1 

the  dale,  and  made  the  sound  of  water  which  she  had 
heard.  The  said  dale  was  so,  that  whatsoever  was 
on  the  other  side  thereof  was  hidden  by  tall  and 
great  trees,  that  stood  close  together  some  twenty 
yards  aloof  from  the  stream,  and  betwixt  them  and 
it  was  fair  greensward  with  a  few  bushes  and  thorn- 
trees  thereon. 

Quoth  the  knight :  Down  there  shall  we  rest  till 
to-morrow,  if  it  please  thee,  lady  ;  and  since  the  sun 
will  set  in  an  hour,  we  were  best  on  our  way  at  once. 
It  pleases  me  well,  said  Birdalone,  and  I  long  to 
tread  the  turf  by  the  river-side,  for  I  am  weary  as 
weary  may  be  of  the  saddle  and  the  pass. 

So  down  the  bent  they  rode,  and  it  was  but  a  little 
ere  they  had  ridden  it  to  an  end,  and  had  met  the 
river  as  it  swept  round  the  clifF-wall  of  the  valley ; 
and  they  rode  through  it,  and  came  on  to  the  pleas- 
ant greensward  aforesaid  under  the  trees ;  and  in  a 
bight  of  the  wood  was  a  bower  builded  of  turf  and 
thatched  with  reed  ;  and  there,  by  the  bidding  of 
the  knight,  they  alighted;  and  the  knight  said:  This 
is  thine  house  for  to-night,  my  lady ;  and  thou 
mayest  lie  there  in  all  safety  after  thou  hast  supped, 
and  mayst  have  my  weapons  by  thy  side  if  thou 
wilt,  while  I  lie  under  the  trees  yonder.  And  if 
thou  wilt  bathe  thee  in  the  cool  water,  to  comfort 
thee  after  the  long  ride  and  the  weariness,  I  swear 
by  thy  hand  that  I  will  take  myself  out  of  eye-shot 
and  abide  aloof  till  thou  call  me. 

Said  Birdalone,  smiling  somewhat :  Fair  sir,  I 
will  not  have  my  watch  and  ward  unarmed ;  keep 
thou  thy  weapons ;  and  thou  wilt  not  forget,  per- 


252     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

chance,  that  I  am  not  wholly  unarmed,  whereas  I 
have  my  bow  and  arrows  and  my  knife  here.  And 
as  to  my  bathing,  I  will  take  thee  at  thy  word,  and 
bid  thee  go  aloof  a  while  now  at  once ;  for  I  will 
go  down  to  the  water ;  and  if  thou  spy  upon  me, 
then  will  it  be  thy  shame  and  not  mine. 

The  knight  went  his  ways  therewith,  and  Bird- 
alone  went  down  to  the  water  and  unclad  her  ;  but 
ere  she  stepped  into  the  river,  she  laid  her  bow  and 
three  shafts  on  the  lip  thereof.  Then  she  took 
the  water,  and  disported  her  merrily  therein  ;  and 
now,  forsooth,  she  was  nowise  downcast,  for  she 
said  to  herself,  this  man  is  not  all  evil  and  he  lov- 
eth  me  well,  and  I  look  for  it  that  to-morrow  he 
will  bring  me  on  my  way  toward  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest,  for  mere  love  of  me ;  and  then  shall  he  be 
a  dear  friend  to  me,  and  I  will  comfort  him  what 
I  can  for  as  long  as  we  both  live. 

So  she  came  out  of  the  water  and  clad  her,  and 
then  called  aloud  for  the  knight,  and  he  came 
speedily  unto  her,  as  if  he  had  been  not  exceeding 
far  away,  though  he  swore  with  a  great  oath  that  he 
had  nowise  espied  her.  She  answered  him  nought, 
and  they  went  side  by  side  to  the  bower ;  and  there 
the  knight  dight  the  victual,  and  they  sat  together 
and  ate  their  meat  like  old  friends ;  and  Birdalone 
asked  the  knight  concerning  this  valley  and  the 
bower,  if  he  had  known  it  for  long,  and  he  an- 
swered :  Yea,  lady,  I  was  but  a  stripling  when  I 
first  happened  on  the  dale ;  and  I  deem  that  few 
know  thereof  save  me ;  at  least  none  of  our  flock 
knoweth  thereof;  and  I  am  fain  thereof,  and  keep 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF    ABIDING  2^2 

them  unknowing,  for  if  my  lord  were  to  hear  of 
my  having  a  haunt  privy  unto  me  he  would  like 
it  but  ill. 

Birdalone  turned  pale  when  she  heard  him  speak 
of  his  lord  ;  for  fear  of  the  Red  Knight  had  entered 
into  her  soul,  so  that  now  the  flesh  crept  upon  her 
bones.  But  she  enforced  her  to  smile,  and  said: 
Yea,  and  what  would  he  do  to  thee  were  he  ill- 
content  with  thy  ways?  Forsooth,  lady,  said  he, 
if  he  could  spare  me  he  would  make  an  end  of  me 
in  some  miserable  way  ;  nay,  if  he  were  exceeding 
ill-content,  he  would  do  as  much  for  me  whether 
he  could  spare  me  or  not ;  otherwise  he  would 
watch  his  occasion,  and  so  grieve  me  that  what  he 
did  would  go  to  my  very  heart.  Woe's  me !  said 
Birdalone,  thou  servest  an  evil  master.  The  knight 
answered  not,  and  Birdalone  went  on  speaking  ear- 
nestly: It  is  a  shame  to  thee  to  follow  this  fiend; 
why  dost  thou  not  sunder  thee  from  him,  and  be- 
come wholly  an  honest  man?  Said  he  gruffly:  It 
is  of  no  use  talking  of  this,  I  may  not;  to  boot,  I 
fear  him.  Then  did  Birdalone  hold  her  peace,  and 
the  knight  said:  Thou  dost  not  know;  when  I  part 
from  thee  I  must  needs  go  straight  to  him,  and  then 
must  that  befall  which  will  befall.  Speak  we  no 
more  of  these  matters. 

Birdalone  flushed  with  hope  and  joy  as  he  spake 
thus,  for  she  took  him  to  mean  that  he  would  lead 
her,  on  the  morrow,  on  her  way  to  the  Castle  of 
the  Quest.  But  the  knight  spake  in  a  voice  grown 
cheerful  again  :  As  to  this  bower,  lady,  the  tale 
thereof  is  soon  told ;  for  with  mine  own  hands  I 


254     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

builded  it  some  fifteen  years  ago  ;  and  I  have  come 
to  this  place  time  and  again  when  my  heart  was 
overmuch  oppressed  with  black  burdens  of  evil 
and  turmoil,  and  have  whiles  prevailed  against  the 
evil,  and  whiles  not.  Mayst  thou  prevail  this  time, 
then  !  said  she.  He  answered  her  not,  but  pres- 
ently fell  to  talking  with  her  of  other  matters,  and 
the  two  were  frank  and  friendly  together,  till  the 
August  night  grew  dark  about  them ;  and  then 
spake  Birdalone:  Now  would  I  rest,  for  I  can  no 
longer  keep  mine  eyes  open.  Abide  aloof  from 
me  to-morrow  morning  till  I  call  to  thee,  as  thou 
didst  this  evening ;  and  then,  before  we  eat  to- 
gether again,  thou  shalt  tell  me  what  thou  wilt  do 
with  me.  He  stood  up  to  depart,  and  she  reached 
out  her  hand  to  him  in  the  glimmer,  and  he  saw 
it,  but  said  :  Nay,  if  I  take  thine  hand,  I  shall  take 
thine  whole  body.  And  therewith  he  departed, 
and  she  laid  her  down  in  her  smock  alone,  and 
slept  anon,  and  was  dreamless  and  forgetting  every- 
thing till  the  sun  was  up  in  the  morning. 


CHAPTER   XVI.     YET   A   DAY  AND  A 
NIGHT  THEY  TARRY  IN  THE  DALE. 

BIRDALONE  awoke  when  the  sun  came  into 
the  bower  to  her,  and  stood  up  at  once,  and 
went  down  to  the  river  and  washed  the  night 
off  her  ;  and  then,  when  she  was  clad,  called  on  the 
knight  to  come  to  her;  and  he  came,  looking  down- 
cast and  troubled  ;  so  that  Birdalone  thought  with- 
in herself:  It  is  well,  he  will  do  my  will. 

She  stood  before  him,  and  gave  him  the  sele  of 
the  day,  and  he  looked  on  her  sorrowfully.  Then 
she  said  :  Now  is  come  the  time  when  I  am  to  ask 
thee  to  take  me  back  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest 
and  my  own  people.  He  was  not  hasty  to  answer 
her,  and  she  spake  again :  This  must  thou  do,  or 
else  take  me  to  the  Red  Hold  and  deliver  me  to 
the  tyrant  there ;  and  I  have  heard  it  from  thine 
own  mouth  that  will  be  nought  else  than  casting 
me  into  shame  and  torment  and  death.  And  I 
deem  thou  canst  not  do  it.  Nay,  she  said,  stay- 
ing the  words  that  were  coming  from  his  mouth, 
I  wot  that  thou  canst  do  it  if  thine  heart  can  suf- 
fer it ;  for  thou  art  stronger  than  I,  and  thou  mayst 
break  my  bow,  and  wrest  this  knife  out  of  mine 
hand ;  and  thou  canst  bind  me  and  make  me  fast 
to  the  saddle,  and  so  lead  my  helpless  body  into 
thraldom  and  death.  But  thou  hast  said  that  thou 
lovest  me,  and  I  believe  thee  herein.  Therefore  I 
know  that  thou  canst  not  will  to  do  this. 

He  answered  in  his  surly  voice  :  Thou  art  right, 
lady,  I  cannot.      Nay,  hearken  thou  this  time.     I 


256     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

have  been  turning  over  night-long  what  thou  didst 
say  about  leaving  my  lord,  that  is,  betraying  him, 
for  it  comes  to  that ;  and  now  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  do  it,  and  I  will  betray  him  for  thy  sake. 
Wherefore  there  is  a  third  way  to  take  which  thou 
hast  not  seen ;  we  will  ride  out  of  this  dale  in  an 
hour's  time,  and  I  will  bring  thee  to  them  who 
are  only  less  the  mortal  foes  of  the  Red  Knight 
than  are  thy  fellows  of  the  Quest,  to  wit,  to  the 
captain  and  burgesses  of  the  good  town  of  Green- 
ford  by  the  Water  ;  and  I  will  do  them  to  wit  that 
I  have  rescued  thee  from  the  hands  of  the  Red 
Knight,  and  am  become  his  foe ;  and  will  show 
them  all  his  incomings  and  outgoings,  and  every 
whit  of  rede,  and  entrap  him,  so  that  he  fall  into 
their  hands.  Now,  though  were  I  to  be  taken  in 
battle  by  them,  I  should  be  speedily  brought  to  the 
halter,  or  may  be  to  the  bale-fire  (for  we  be  wizards 
all  in  the  Red  Hold)  ;  yet  with  this  word  in  my 
mouth,  if  they  trow  in  it,  I  shall  be  made  their  cap- 
tain, and  presently  their  master.  Trow  in  my  tale 
they  will,  if  thou  bear  me  out  therein,  and  they 
will  honour  thee,  and  suffer  thee  to  give  thyself  to 
me  in  marriage;  and  then  I  know  thee,  and  my- 
self also,  and  that  ere  long  we  shall  be  both  mighty 
and  wealthy  and  beloved,  and  fair  will  be  the  days 
before  us. 

His  voice  had  grown  softer  as  he  spake,  and  to- 
ward the  end  of  his  words  he  faltered,  and  at  last 
brake  out  a-weeping,  and  cast  himself  wordless  on 
the  grass  before  her. 

She  was  pale,  and  her  brow  was  knitted,  and  her 


OF    THE   DAYS   OF   ABIDING  257 

face  quivered ;  but  she  spake  coldly  to  him  and 
said :  This  way  I  cannot  take ;  and  I  wonder  at 
thee  that  thou  hast  shown  it  unto  me,  for  thyself 
thou  knowest  that  I  cannot  go  with  thee.  I  will 
go  nowhere  hence  save  to  the  Castle  of  the  Guest. 
If  thou  wilt  not  lead  me  thereto,  or  put  me  on  the 
road,  I  ask  thee  straight.  Wilt  thou  stay  me  if  I 
go  seek  the  way  thither  myself? 

He  rose  up  from  the  ground  with  a  pale  face  full 
of  anger  as  well  as  grief,  and  caught  her  by  the 
wrists  and  said,  scowling  the  while  :  Tell  me  now 
which  of  them  it  is ;  is  it  the  stupid  oaf  Baudoin, 
or  the  light  fool  Hugh,  or  the  dull  pedant  Arthur  ? 
But  it  matters  not ;  for  I  know,  and  all  the  coun- 
try-side knows,  that  they  be  vowed,  each  man  of 
them,  to  his  own  woman  ;  and  if  they  find  not  the 
women  themselves,  such  dolts  they  are,  that  they 
will  ever  be  worshipping  the  mere  shadows  of  them, 
and  turn  away  from  flesh  and  blood,  were  it  the 
fairest  in  the  world,  as  thou  art,  as  thou  art. 

She  shrank  away  from  him  what  she  might,  but 
he  still  held  her  wrists  ;  then  she  spake  in  a  quiv- 
ering voice,  her  very  lips  pale  with  fear  and  wrath  : 
It  is  well  seen  that  thou  art  a  man  of  the  Red 
Knight ;  and  belike  thou  wouldst  do  with  me  as 
he  would.  But  one  thing  I  crave  of  thee,  if  there 
is  any  grain  of  mercy  in  thee,  that  thou  wilt  draw 
thy  sword  and  thrust  me  through  ;  thou  mayst 
leave  thine  hold  of  me  to  get  at  the  blade,  I  will  not 
stir  from  where  I  stand.  O  !  to  think  that  I  deemed 
thee  well-nigh  a  true  man. 

He  dropped  her  hands  now  and  stood  aloof  from 


258     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

her,  staring  at  her,  and  presently  cast  himself  on 
the  ground,  rolling  about  and  tearing  at  the  grass. 
She  looked  on  him  a  moment  or  two,  and  then 
stepped  forward  and  stooped  to  him,  and  touched 
his  shoulder  and  said :  Rise  up,  I  bid  thee,  and  be 
a  man  and  not  a  wild  beast. 

So  in  a  while  he  arose,  and  stood  before  her 
hang-dog-like ;  then  she  looked  on  him  pitifully, 
and  said  :  Fair  sir  and  valiant  knight,  thou  hast 
gone  out  of  thy  mind  for  a  while,  and  thus  hast 
thou  shamed  both  me  and  thyself;  and  now  thou 
wert  best  forget  it,  and  therewithal  my  last  words 
to  thee. 

Therewith  she  held  out  her  hand  to  him,  and 
he  went  on  his  knees  and  took  it,  sobbing,  and 
kissed  it.  But  she  said,  and  smiled  on  him:  Now 
I  see  that  thou  wilt  do  what  I  prayed  of  thee,  and 
lead  me  hence  and  put  me  on  the  road  to  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest.  He  said :  I  will  lead  thee  to 
the  Castle  of  the  Quest. 

Said  Birdalone  :  Then  shall  it  be  as  I  promised, 
that  I  will  be  thy  dear  friend  while  both  we  live. 
And  now,  if  thou  canst,  be  a  little  merrier,  and  come 
and  sit  with  me,  and  let  us  eat  our  meat,  for  I 
hunger. 

He  smiled,  but  woefully,  and  presently  they  sat 
down  to  their  meat ;  and  he  strove  to  be  somewhat 
merry  of  mood,  and  to  eat  as  one  at  a  feast ;  but 
whiles  his  heart  failed  him,  and  he  set  his  teeth  and 
tore  at  the  grass,  and  his  face  was  fierce  and  terrible 
to  look  on ;  but  Birdalone  made  as  if  she  heeded 
it  nought,  and  was  blithe  and  debonair  with  him. 


OF   THE    DAYS    OF   ABIDING  259 

And  when  they  had  done  their  meat  he  sat  looking 
at  her  a  while,  and  at  last  he  said:  Lady,  dost  thou 
deem  that,  when  all  is  said,  I  have  done  somewhat 
for  thee  since  first  we  met  the  day  before  yesterday 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  Black  Valley  ?  Yea,  she 
said,  as  erst  I  spake,  all  things  considered  I  deem 
that  thou  hast  done  much.  And  now,  said  he,  I 
am  to  do  more  yet ;  for  I  am  to  lead  thee  to  where 
henceforth  I  shall  have  no  more  part  or  lot  in  thee 
than  if  thou  wert  in  heaven  and  I  in  hell.  I  pray 
thee  say  not  so,  said  Birdalone  ;  have  I  not  said 
that  I  will  be  thy  friend  ?  Lady,  said  the  knight, 
I  wot  well  that  according  to  the  sweetness  of  thine 
heart  wilt  thou  do  what  thou  canst  do.  And  there- 
with he  was  silent  a  while  and  she  also. 

Then  he  said  :  I  would  ask  thee  a  grace  if  I  durst. 
Ask  it,  said  she,  and  I  will  grant  it  if  I  may ;  I  have 
gainsaid  thee  enough  meseemeth. 

Lady,  he  said,  I  will  ask  this  as  a  reward  of  the 
way-leader,  to  wit,  that  thou  abide  with  me  here  in 
this  dale,  in  all  honour  holden,  till  to-morrow  morn- 
ing ;  and  let  this  place,  which  has  helped  me  afore- 
time, be  hallowed  by  thy  dwelling  here  ;  and  I,  I 
shall  have  had  one  happy  day  at  least,  if  never 
another.  Canst  thou  grant  me  this?  If  thou  canst 
not,  we  will  depart  in  an  hour. 

Her  countenance  fell  at  his  word,  and  she  was 
silent  a  while;  for  sore  she  longed  to  be  speedily 
whereas  her  friends  should  find  her  if  they  came 
back  to  the  castle.  But  she  thought  within  herself 
how  wild  and  fierce  the  man  was,  and  doubted  if 
he  might  not  go  stark  mad  on  her  hands  and  de- 


iGo     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

stroy  her  if  she  thwarted  overmuch ;  and,  moreover, 
frankly  she  pitied  him,  and  would  do  what  she 
might  to  ease  his  pain  and  solace  his  grief  of  heart. 
Wherefore  she  cleared  her  face  of  its  trouble  and 
let  it  be  vexed  no  longer,  but  smiled  upon  the  knight 
and  said  :  Fair  sir,  this  meseemeth  is  but  a  little 
thing  for  me  to  do,  and  I  grant  it  thee  with  a 
good  will,  and  this  shall  now  be  the  first  day  of 
the  friendship  if  so  thou  wilt  take  it ;  and  may  it 
solace  thee. 

Who  then  was  gleeful  but  the  knight,  and  strange 
it  was  to  see  all  his  sorrow  run  off  him  ;  and  he 
became  glad  and  gamesome  as  a  youth,  and  yet 
withal  exceeding  courteous  and  kind  with  her,  as 
though  he  were  serving  a  mighty  queen. 

So  then  they  wore  the  day  together  in  all  good 
fellowship ;  and  first  they  went  up  the  dale  together 
and  right  to  the  foot  of  that  great  force,  where  the 
stream  came  thundering  down  from  the  sheer  rocks; 
and  long  Birdalone  stood  to  look  thereon,  and  much 
she  marvelled  at  it,  for  no  such  thing  had  she  seen 
before. 

Thereafter  they  went  afoot  into  the  wood  behind 
the  green  bower,  and  when  they  had  gone  some 
way  therein  for  their  pleasure,  they  fell  to  seeking 
venison  for  their  dinner:  and  the  knig-httook  Bird- 
alone's  bow  and  shafts  to  strike  the  quarry  withal, 
but  he  would  have  her  gird  his  sword  to  her,  that 
she  might  not  be  weaponless.  So  they  gat  them 
a  roe  and  came  back  therewith  to  the  bower,  and 
the  knight  dight  it  and  cooked  it,  and  again  they 
ate  in  fellowship  and  kindness  ;  and  Birdalone  had 


OF   THE   DAYS   OF   ABIDING  261 

been  to  the  river  and  fetched  thence  store  of  blue- 
flowered  mouse-ear,  and  of  meadow-sweet,  whereof 
was  still  some  left  from  the  early  days  of  summer, 
and  had  made  her  garlands  for  her  head  and  her 
loins ;  and  the  knight  sat  and  worshipped  her,  yet 
he  would  not  so  much  as  touch  her  hand,  sorely 
as  he  hungered  for  the  beauty  of  her  body. 

Next,  when  dinner  was  done,  and  they  lay  in  the 
shadow  of  the  trees,  and  hearkened  the  moor-hen 
crying  from  the  water,  and  the  moaning  of  the  wood- 
doves  in  the  high  trees,  she  turned  to  him  and  bade 
him  tell  her  somewhat  of  the  tale  of  his  life  and 
deeds;  but  he  said  :  Nay,  lady,  I  pray  thee  pardon 
me,  for  little  have  I  to  tell  thee  that  is  good,  and 
I  would  not  have  thee  know  of  me  aught  worse 
than  thou  knowest  of  me  already.  Rather  be  thou 
kind  to  me,  and  tell  me  of  thy  days  that  have  been, 
wherein  J  know  full  surely  shall  be  nought  but 
good. 

She  smiled  and  blushed,  but  without  more  ado 
fell  to  telling  him  of  her  life  in  the  House  under 
the  Wood,  and  spared  not  even  to  tell  him  some- 
what of  the  wood-mother.  And  he  said  no  word 
to  her  thereover,  save  thanks  and  praises  for  the 
kindness  of  her  story. 

At  last  the  day  wore  to  its  ending,  and  then  the 
knight's  grief  strode  over  him  again,  and  he  was 
moody  and  few-spoken ;  and  Birdalone  was  blithe 
with  him  still,  and  would  have  solaced  his  grief; 
but  he  said :  Let  it  be ;  as  for  thee,  thou  shalt  be 
happy  to-morrow,  but  this  happy  day  of  mine  is 
well-nigh  worn,  and  it  is  as  the  wearing  of  my  life. 


262     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

And  the  dark  night  came,  and  he  bade  her  good- 
night sorrowfully,  and  departed  to  his  lair  in  the 
wood.  Birdalone  lay  in  the  bower,  and  might  not 
sleep  a  long  while  for  her  joy  of  the  morrow,  which 
should  bring  her  back  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest. 

But  when  morning  was,  and  the  sun  was  but  just 
risen,  Birdalone  awoke,  and  stood  up  and  did  on 
her  raiment,  and  called  her  servant  the  knight,  and 
he  came  at  once  leading  the  two  horses,  and  said : 
Now  go  we  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest.  And  he 
was  sober  and  sorrowful,  but  nought  fierce  or  wild. 

So  Birdalone  thanked  him  kindly  and  praised 
him,  and  he  changed  countenance  no  whit  therefor. 

Then  they  mounted  and  set  forth,  and  the  knight 
led  straight  into  the  wood,  and  by  roads  that  he 
wotted  of,  so  they  went  nowise  slowly  for  wenders 
through  the  thick  woodland.  Thus  went  they 
on  their  way  together,  he  sorry  and  she  glad. 

But  now  leaves  the  tale  to  tell  of  Birdalone  and 
the  knight  on  whom  she  happened  in  the  Black 
Valley  of  the  Greywethers,  and  turns  to  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest  and  the  folk  thereof,  and  what  they 
did  in  this  while  and  thereafter. 

Here  ends  the  Fourth  Part  of  the  Water 
of  the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  Of 
the  Days  of  Abiding,  and  the  Fifth  Part  now 
begins,  which  is  called  The  Tale  of  the 
Quest's  Ending. 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  FIFTH  PART:  THE 
TALE  OF  THE  QUEST'S  ENDING. 

CHAPTER  I.  OF  SIR  LEONARD'S 
TROUBLE  AND  THE  COMING  OF 
THE    OUEST. 


T^ 


1 


ELLS  the  tale  that  when  the  chaplain  had 
departed  from  Birdalone  at  the  bower  in 
the  copse,  he  went  home  to  the  castle  sadly 
enough,  because  of  his  love  and  longing  for  her, 
which  well  he  wotted  might  never  be  satisfied. 
Moreover  when  he  was  come  into  the  castle  again, 
there  fell  fear  upon  him  for  what  might  betide  her, 
and  he  rued  it  that  he  had  done  her  will  in  getting 
her  forth  of  the  castle  ;  and  in  vain  now  he  set  be- 
fore himself  all  the  reasons  for  deeming  that  her 
peril  herein  was  little  or  nothing,  even  as  he  had 
laid  them  before  her,  and  which  he  then  believed 
in  utterly,  whereas  now  himseemed  there  was  an 
answer  to  every  one  of  them.  So  he  sighed  heav- 
ily and  went  into  the  chapel,  wherein  was  an  altar 
of  St.  Leonard ;  and  he  knelt  thereat,  and  prayed 
the  saint,  as  he  had  erst  delivered  folk  from  cap- 
tivity, now  to  deliver  both  him  and  Birdalone  from 
peril  and  bonds  ;  but  though  he  was  long  a-praying 
and  made  many  words,  it  lightened  his  heart  little 
or  nothing;  so  that  when  he  rose  up  again,  that  if 
anything  evil  happened  to  this  pearl  of  women,  he 
wished  heartily  that  some  one  might  take  his  life 
and  he  be  done  with  it. 


264     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Now  was  the  house  astir,  and  the  chaplain  came 
from  out  the  chapel,  and  thinking  all  things  over, 
he  thought  he  would  go  straight  to  Sir  Aymeris 
and  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  so  that  weaponed 
men  might  be  sent  at  once  to  seek  Birdalone.  And 
he  said  to  himself:  What  matter  if  he  slay  me  or 
cast  me  into  prison,  if  Birdalone  be  lost  ? 

So  he  went  his  ways  to  the  highest  tower,  which 
looked  landward  and  hight  the  Open  Eye,  deem- 
ing to  find  Sir  Aymeris;  but  when  he  got  to  the 
topmost,  he  found  neither  captain  nor  carle  there  : 
wherefore  he  stayed  a  little  and  looked  forth  be- 
twixt the  battlements,  if  perchance  there  were  some 
wild  chance  of  seeing  Birdalone's  coming  home 
again;  but  his  keen  eyes  beheld  nothing  more  than 
he  looked  to  see,  as  sheep  and  neat,  and  the  field- 
folk  of  thereabouts.  So  he  turned  away  and  went 
by  the  swale  toward  the  next  tallest  tower,  which 
looked  lakewards,  and  was  called  Hearts'  Hope ; 
and  as  he  went  he  fell  to  framing  in  his  mind  the 
words  which  he  should  say  to  the  castellan. 

Thus  came  he,  haggard  and  hapless,  on  the  leads 
of  the  tower,  which  were  nought  small ;  and  there 
gathered  together  in  a  knot,  and  all  gazing  eagerly 
out  over  the  lake,  he  found  a  dozen  of  men-at-arms 
and  the  castellan  amongst  them.  They  took  no 
heed  of  him  as  he  came  up,  though  he  stumbled  as 
he  crossed  the  threshold  and  came  clattering  over 
the  lead  floor,  and  he  saw  at  once  that  there  was 
something  unwonted  toward ;  but  he  had  but  one 
thought  in  his  mind,  to  wit,  the  rescuing  of  Bird- 
alone. 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     265 

He  went  up  now  behind  where  the  castellan 
was  leaning  over  the  battlement,  and  pulled  his 
skirt,  and  when  Sir  Aymeris  turned  round,  he 
said  :  Lord,  I  have  a  word  for  thine  ear.  But  the 
old  knight  did  but  half  turn  round,  and  then  spake 
peevishly  :  Tush,  man  !  another  time  !  seest  thou 
not  I  have  got  no  eyes  for  aught  save  what  we  see 
on  the  lake  ?  Yea,  but  what  then  ?  said  the  priest. 
There  cometh  a  boat,  said  Sir  Aymeris,  not  look- 
ing back  at  him,  and  our  thought  is  that  therein  be 
our  lords. 

When  the  priest  heard  that  word,  it  was  to  him 
as  if  hell  had  opened  underneath  his  feet ;  and  he 
had  no  might  to  speak  for  a  minute  ;  then  he  cried 
out :  Sir  Aymeris,  hearken,  I  pray  thee.  But  the 
old  knight  but  thrust  him  back  with  his  hand,  and 
even  therewith  one  of  the  men-at-arms  cried  out : 
I  hear  the  voice  of  their  horn  !  Then  shouted  Sir 
Aymeris  :  Where  art  thou.  Noise  ?  Blow,  man, 
blow,  if  ever  thou  blewest  in  all  thy  Hfe !  And 
therewithal  came  the  blare  of  the  brass,  and  Sir 
Aymeris  nodded  to  the  trumpeter,  who  blew  blast 
after  blast  with  all  his  might,  so  that  the  priest 
might  as  well  have  been  dumb  for  any  hearing 
he  might  get ;  and  all  the  while  to  Leonard 
the  minutes  seemed  hours,  and  he  was  well-nigh 
distraught. 

And  then  when  the  knight  held  up  his  hand  for 
the  Noise  to  stay  his  blowing,  and  Leonard  strove  to 
speak,  the  castellan  turned  on  him  and  said  :  Peace, 
Sir  Leonard ;  dost  thou  not  know  that  now  we 
would  listen  with  our  ears  to  heed  if  they  answer 


266     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

us  ?  Not  a  word  any  one  man  of  you,  learned  or 
lewd,  or  ye  shall  rue  it  ! 

Even  therewith  came  clearly  the  sound  of  the 
horn  from  the  water,  and  again  and  yet  again  ;  and 
no  man  spake  but  the  chaplain,  who  cried  out : 
Hearken,  knight,  it  is  of  Birdalone.  But  Sir  Ay- 
meris  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder  and  said  in  an 
angry  whisper :  Thou  shalt  be  put  downstairs, 
priest,  if  thou  hold  not  thy  peace. 

Leonard  drew  aback  scowling,  and  went  out  of 
the  door,  and  so  slowly  down  the  stair,  and  with- 
drew him  into  the  cover  of  the  door  of  the  first 
chamber  down  from  the  tower-top,  with  the  mind 
to  waylay  Sir  Aymeris  as  he  came  down  ;  and  mean- 
while he  cursed  him  for  a  fool  and  a  dull-wit,  and 
himself  yet  more,  as  was  but  right,  for  a  fool  and  a 
licorous  traitor. 

But  he  had  not  tarried  there  more  than  a  score 
of  minutes,  ere  he  heard  a  great  shout  from 
those  up  above  :  They  are  come!  they  are  come! 
And  next  thereafter  came  all  the  men  clattering 
down  the  stair  past  him,  scarce  refraining  them 
from  shoving  each  his  neighbour  on  to  the  next 
one  ;  Leonard  followed  on  them,  and  presently 
arose  great  shouting  and  tumult  through  all  the 
house,  and  all  folk,  men  and  women,  hurried 
flock-meal  toward  the  water-gate,  and  with  them 
went  Leonard  perforce ;  and  sick  of  heart  he 
was,  calling  to  mind  the  first  coming  thither  of 
Birdalone. 

But  now  when  they  came  to  the  water-gate,  there 
verily  was  the  Sending  Boat  just  coming  to  hand ; 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     267 

and  in  the  stern  stood  the  three  knights  together, 
all  clad  in  their  armour,  and  before  them  sat  three 
lovely  ladies,  clad  one  in  gold,  one  in  green,  and 
one  in  black :  and  lo,  there  was  the  Quest  come 
home. 


CHAPTER  11.  NOW  ASK  THEY  OF 
BIRDALONE,  AND  SIR  LEONARD 
SPEAKS. 

NOW  the  prow  touched  the  stones  of  the 
stair,  and  folk,  were  busy  to  lay  hold  of  it 
that  the  wayfarers  might  land,  but  Sir  Bau- 
doln  cried  out  in  a  great  voice  :  Let  none  be  so 
hardy  as  to  touch  this  ferry,  either  now  or  hereafter; 
for  there  is  peril  therein.  And  therewith  he  took 
Aurea  by  the  hand,  and  led  her  out  of  the  boat  and 
up  the  stair,  and  she  all  joyous  and  wondering  ;  and 
thereafter  came  Hugh  and  his  darling,  and  last  of 
all  Arthur  and  Atra,  and  she  alone  of  the  three 
women  looked  downcast,  and  her  eyes  wandered 
about  the  throng  that  was  before  them  there,  as 
though  she  sought  something,  yet  feared  to  see  it. 

But  when  they  were  all  standing  together  on  the 
landing-plain,  and  the  folk  were  all  about  them  in 
a  ring.  Sir  Baudoin  spake  to  the  castellan  and  said  : 
Sir  Aymeris,  thee  and  other  folk  I  see  here,  the 
sight  of  whom  doth  me  great  joy  ;  but  where,  I 
pray  thee,  is  the  lady,  our  friend  Birdalone,  by 
whom  it  is  that  all  we  are  come  happily  hither  ? 
And  he  looked  around  with  an  anxious  face  ;  but 
Arthur  was  as  pale  as  ashes,  yet  he  spake  nought, 
and  Atra  let  her  hand  fall  away  from  his. 

Then  spake  the  castellan,  and  said  :  No  harm 
hath  befallen  the  Lady  Birdalone ;  but  whiles  she 
hath  been  somewhat  ailing  of  late,  and  it  is  like  that 
she  wotteth  not  what  is  toward,  and  keepeth  her 
chamber  now,  for  it  is  yet  betimes  in  the  morning. 


THE    TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     269 

As  he  spake,  came  thrusting  a  man  through  the 
throng,  eager  and  pale-faced ;  \^  ho  but  the  chap- 
lain ;  and  he  said  :  He  would  not  let  me  speak,  this 
fool ;  I  cannot  choose  my  time.  Lords,  I  bear  evil 
tidings  and  an  ugly  welcome  home.  The  Lady 
Birdalone  is  in  peril,  and  she  is  not  in  the  castle  ;  I 
wot  not  where  she  is.  Ye  must  send  armed  men 
to  seek  her  out. 

Thereat  fell  the  silence  of  woe  upon  the  throng  ; 
but  Arthur  ran  forward  on  the  priest  with  drawn 
sword,  and  cried  out :  I  misdoubt  me  that  thou  art 
a  traitor  ;  speak  !  or  I  will  slay  thee  here  and  now. 
If  I  be  a  traitor,  quoth  Leonard,  I  shall  tell  thee 
in  little  while  what  ye  must  do  to  undo  my  treason, 
if  there  be  yet  time  thereto;  so  slay  me  not  till  ye 
have  heard,  and  then  do  what  ye  will  with  me. 

But  Baudoin  put  Arthur  aside,  and  said  :  Refrain 
thee  a  little,  fair  brother,  else  shall  words  tumble 
over  each  other  and  we  shall  know  nothing  clear. 
Sir  Aymeris,  bring  our  dear  ladies  to  the  fairest 
chambers,  and  do  all  honour  and  courtesy  to  them. 
And  ye,  sweetlings,  ye  will  not  begrudge  us  that  we 
go  to  seek  your  friend.  Thou  priest,  come  with 
us  a  little  apart,  and  tell  thy  tale  as  shortly  as  thou 
mayst,  and  fear  nought ;  we  be  not  God's  dastards, 
as  the  Red  Knight  and  his  men. 

Viridis  wept  and  kissed  her  love  before  all  folk, 
and  bade  him  go  and  do  his  best  to  find  her  friend, 
or  never  come  back  to  her  else.  Much  moved, 
even  to  tears,  was  Aurea  withal,  and  reached  her 
hand  to  Baudoin,  and  said  :  If  any  man  on  earth 
can   help   us   it   is  thou.      Go   thou.      But  Atra 


270     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

wept  not,  and  but  said  to  Arthur  :   Go  thou,  it  is 
meet. 

Therewith  were  the  ladies  brought  to  fair  cham- 
bers ;  but  the  three  knights  went  with  the  priest 
and  Sir  Aymeris  into  the  solar,  and  set  a  guard  at 
the  door  that  their  talk  should  be  privy. 


CHAPTER  III.  HOW  THEY  FOLLOW 
THE  SLOT  OF  BIRDALONE  AND  THE 
BLACK  KNIGHT. 

IT  was  but  five  minutes  ere  the  priest  had  told 
them  all  that  need  was  ;  so  they  let  him  abide 
alone  there,  though  sooth  to  say  there  was  none 
of  them  but  had  good  will  to  break  his  neck  ;  and 
the  same  rede  had  all  three,  that  there  was  nought 
for  it  but  to  go  their  ways  with  all  speed  to  the 
Black  Valley  of  the  Greywethers,  and  follow  up 
the  slot  of  Birdalone  if  it  might  yet  be  found; 
wherefore  they  bade  saddle  their  horses  straight- 
way ;  and  while  that  was  a-doing  they  ate  a  mor- 
sel, and  bade  farewell  to  their  lovelings.  And  they 
dight  them  to  go,  they  three  together,  with  but  one 
squire  and  a  sergeant,  who  were  both  of  them  keen 
trackers  and  fell  woodsmen.  But  ere  they  went, 
by  the  rede  of  Arthur  they  bade  Sir  Aymeris  to 
arm  a  two  score  of  men  and  ride  toward  the  Red 
Hold,  and  beset  the  ways  'twixt  that  and  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest ;  for  one  and  all  they  deemed  that  if 
any  harm  befell  Birdalone,  the  Red  Knight  would 
be  at  the  bottom  of  it. 

So  rode  those  fellows,  and  came  unto  the  dale 
but  some  four  hours  after  Birdalone  had  happened 
on  the  stranger  knight ;  and  they  took  up  the 
slot  of  her,  but  not  easily,  whereas  the  ground  was 
hard  and  stony ;  howbeit,  they  found  tokens  of 
the  knight  also,  finding  here  and  there  what  they 
deemed  the  footprints  of  a  tall  man.  And  this 
was  grievous  to  those  fellows,  since  now  they  could 


272     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

not  but  deem  that  somewhat  untoward  had  befallen 
Birdalone.  But  they  went  on  making  out  the  slot, 
and  they  followed  it  with  much  toil  until  they  came 
to  the  doom-ring  in  the  head  of  the  dale,  whereas 
Birdalone  and  the  stranger  had  sat  down  to  meat ; 
but  by  that  time,  so  toilsome  had  been  their  going, 
it  was  somewhat  more  than  dusk,  and  there  was 
nought  for  it  but  to  abide  there  night-long.  So  a 
while  they  sat  talking,  all  of  them,  and  the  squire 
and  the  sergeant  aforesaid  were  not  a  little  timor- 
ous of  the  adventure  of  making  that  stead  unkenned 
their  sleeping  chamber;  and  to  while  away  the  time, 
their  lords  made  them  tell  tales  such  as  they  knew 
concerning  that  place  ;  and  both  they  said  that  they 
had  never  erst  come  into  the  dale  but  a  very  little 
way,  and  said  that  they  had  done  so  then  but  trust- 
ing in  their  lords'  bidding  and  the  luck  of  the  Quest. 
Thereafter  turned  the  talk  as  to  what  had  befallen 
Birdalone,  and  the  chances  of  coming  on  her;  and, 
as  folk  will  in  such  a  plight,  they  talked  the  mat- 
ter over  and  over  again  till  they  were  weary  and 
could  say  no  more. 

Then  they  went  to  sleep,  and  nought  befell  them 
till  they  awoke  in  the  broad  daylight ;  but  they 
had  little  inkling  of  what  hour  it  was,  for  all  the 
dale  was  full  of  thick  white  mist  that  came  roll- 
ing down  from  the  mountains,  so  that  they  could 
scarce  see  their  hands  before  them,  and  there  they 
had  to  tarry  still,  would  they,  would  they  not ; 
and  the  sergeant  fell  to  telling  tales  of  folk  who 
had  been  lost  in  that  stony  maze  ;  and  all  of  them 
deemed,  more  or  less,  that  this  was  the  work  either 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     273 

of  evil  wights,  or  it  might  be  of  the  wizardry  of 
the  Red  Knight ;  and,  to  be  short,  they  all  deemed 
that  he  it  was  who  had  wielded  it,  save  the  ser- 
geant, who  said  that  the  mountain  wights  were  the 
masters  and  not  the  servants  of  him  of  the  Red 
Hold. 

Thus,  then,  it  betided ;  but  when  the  said  mist 
had  been  hanging  upon  them  for  some  six  hours, 
it  rolled  up  like  a  curtain,  and  lo  the  blue  sky  and 
the  sun,  and  the  mountains  as  clear  blue  as  in  a 
picture ;  and  they  saw  by  the  sun  that  it  was  but 
a  little  after  high  noon. 

But  as  they  rejoiced  herein,  and  betook  them 
once  more  to  tracking  out  the  slot  of  Birdalone 
and  the  other,  the  sky  became  suddenly  overcast, 
and  down  from  the  jaws  of  the  mountain  came  a 
storm  of  wind  and  rain,  and  thunder  and  lightning, 
so  great  that  they  might  scarce  see  each  other's 
faces,  and  when  it  cleared  off,  in  about  an  hour  and 
a  half,  and  v/ent  down  the  wind  to  the  south-east, 
the  stream  was  v/axen  great,  and  ran  brown  and 
furious  down  the  dale,  so  that  it  was  fordable  only 
here  and  there  ;  and  as  for  tracking  the  slot  of 
those  twain,  there  was  no  need  to  talk  thereof,  for 
the  fury  of  the  driving  rain  had  washed  all  away. 

Thus  fared  they  the  whole  day  betwixt  fog  and 
clear  weather,  and  they  laid  them  down  to  rest  at 
night  sore  disheartened.  When  the  day  broke  they 
talked  together  as  to  what  was  best  to  do  ;  and  the 
sergeant  aforesaid  spake:  Lords,  said  he, meseem- 
eth  I  am  more  at  home  in  the  Black  Valley  than 
ye  be;  heed  ye  not  wherefore.     Now  so  it  is  that 

18 


274     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

if  we  tarry  here  till  night  come  we  wot  not  what 
of  evil  may  betide  us,  or  at  the  least  we  do  nought. 
Or  if  we  turn  back  and  go  southward  out  of  the 
dale  we  shall  be  safe  indeed ;  but  safe  should  we 
have  been  at  your  house,  lords,  and  should  have 
done  no  less.  But  now  I  shall  tell  you  that,  if  ye 
will,  lords,  I  shall  guide  you  to  a  pass  that  goeth 
out  of  the  head  of  the  dale  to  our  right  hands,  and 
so  turneth  the  flank  of  the  mountains,  and  cometh 
out  into  the  country  which  lieth  about  the  Red 
Hold ;  and  meseemeth  it  is  thitherward  that  we 
must  seek  if  we  would  hear  any  tidings  of  the  lady  ; 
for  there  may  we  lay  in  ambush  and  beset  the  ways 
that  lead  up  to  the  Hold,  by  which  she  must  have 
been  brought  if  she  hath  not  been  carried  through 
the  air.  How  say  ye,  lords  ?  Soothly  there  is  peril 
therein;  yet  meseemeth  peril  no  more  than  in  our 
abiding  another  night  in  the  Black  Valley. 

Said  Arthur  :  We  heed  not  the  peril  if  there  be 
aught  to  be  done ;  wherefore  let  us  be  stirring 
straightway.  And  so  said  they  all.  Wherefore 
they  gat  to  horse,  and  rode  up  to  the  very  head 
of  the  valley,  and  the  weather  was  now  calm  and 
bright. 

But  the  sergeant  brought  them  to  the  pass 
whereof  the  stranger  knight  had  spoken  to  Bird- 
alone,  which  led  into  the  Red  Knight's  country, 
and  without  more  ado  they  entered  it  when  it  was 
now  about  three  hours  after  noon.  But  the  way 
was  both  steep  and  rough,  so  that  they  had  much 
toil,  and  went  not  very  far  ere  night  fell  upon  them, 
and  the  moon  was  not  yet  up.    So  when  they  had 


THE    TALE    OF    THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     275 

Stumbled  on  another  two  hours,  and  their  horses 
were  much  spent  and  they  themselves  not  a  little 
weary,  they  laid  them  down  to  sleep,  after  they 
had  eaten  such  meat  as  they  had  with  them,  in  a 
place  where  was  a  little  grass  for  the  horses  to  bite  ; 
for  all  the  road  hitherto  had  been  mere  grim  stones 
and  big  rocks,  walled  on  either  side  by  stony  screes, 
above  which  rose  steep  and  beetling  crags. 

In  the  dawn  they  arose  again,  and  made  no  ado 
till  they  were  in  the  saddle,  and  rode  till  they  came 
to  the  crest  of  the  pass,  and  came  out  thence  after 
a  while  on  to  the  swelling  flank  of  a  huge  mountain 
(as  it  might  be  the  side  of  the  mountain  of  Plin- 
limmon  in  Wales),  which  was  grassed  and  nought 
craggy,  but  utterly  treeless. 

Now  the  sergeant  led  them  somewhat  athwart 
the  said  mountain  till  they  began  to  go  down,  and 
saw  below  them  a  country  of  little  hills  much  cov- 
ered with  wood,  and  in  a  while,  and  ere  it  was  noon, 
they  were  among  the  said  woods,  which  were  grown 
mostly  with  big  trees,  as  oak  here  and  beech  there, 
and  the  going  was  good  for  them. 


CHAPTER  IV.     OF  THE  SLAYING  OF 
FRIEND    AND    FOE. 

SO  came  they,  three  hours  after  noon,  to  where 
was  a  clearing  in  the  woodland,  and  a  long 
narrow  plain  some  furlong  over  lay  before 
them,  with  a  river  running  along  it,  and  the  wood 
rose  on  the  other  side  high  and  thick,  so  that  the 
said  plain  looked  even  as  a  wide  green  highway 
leading  from  somewhence  to  somewhither. 

At  the  edge  hereof  their  way-leader,  the  ser- 
geant, bade  draw  rein,  and  said  :  Lords,  we  are 
now  in  the  lands  of  the  Red  Hold,  and  therein  is 
mickle  peril  and  dread  to  any  save  stout  hearts  as 
ye  be  ;  but  meseems  we  are  so  steaded,  that  what- 
ever may  come  out  of  the  Black  Valley  of  the 
Greywethers  to  the  Red  Hold,  ye  now  may  scarce 
miss.  Yonder  along  this  plain  to  the  north  lies 
the  way  to  the  said  Hold,  and  any  man  coming 
from  the  head  of  the  valley  is  sure  to  come  by  the 
way  we  have  come,  and  will  pass  us  not  many  yards 
at  the  worst  from  where  we  now  be.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  any  come  to  the  Hold  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Black  Valley,  then  along  this  green  road  must 
they  needs  pass  under  your  very  eyes.  Lastly,  if 
we  do  what  we  are  come  to  do,  to  wit,  to  deliver  the 
lady  from  the  Red  Knight,  then,  the  deed  done, 
we  have  to  take  the  green  road  southward,  and  ride 
it  for  a  league  and  then  turn  east,  and  we  shall  have 
our  heads  turned  toward  the  Castle  of  the  Quest, 
and  shall  speedily  fall  in  with  Sir  Aymeris  and  our 
men  who  be  guarding  the  out-gates  of  the   Red 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S   ENDING     277 

Knight's  country  toward  our  house.  So  now,  by 
my  rede,  ye  shall  lay  in  covert  here  and  abide  a 
while  what  may  befall  ;  if  nought  come  hereby  ere 
two  hours  be  lacking  of  sunset,  then  may  we  seek 
further. 

They  all  yeasaid  this,  and  gat  off  their  horses, 
and  lay  quiet  on  the  grass,  not  even  speaking  save 
softly.  And  when  they  had  abided  thus  scarce  an 
hour's  space,  the  squire,  who  was  a  man  of  very 
fine  ear,  held  up  his  hand  as  though  to  bid  utter 
silence,  and  all  hearkened  eagerly.  Presently  he 
said:  Hear  ve  not?  Said  Arthur  :  Meseemeth  I 
hear  a  faint  tinkle  as  of  a  sheep-bell.  Said  the 
squire  :  'Tis  the  clashing  of  swords  down  the  plain 
to  the  south,  and  meseemeth  'tis  but  of  two  :  ride 
we  thither  ? 

Quoth  Baudoin  :  Nay,  not  by  my  rede  ;  for  if 
we  can  hear  them  they  can  hear  us  ;  let  us  quietly 
edge  along  afoot  somewhat  nigher  their  way,  ever 
keeping  the  cover  of  the  wood  betwixt  us  and  the 
open  plain.  Now  then  to  it ;  and  let  each  man 
keep  his  weapons  ready. 

Even  so  did  they,  and  spread  out  in  a  line  as  they 
went,  in  such  wise  that  there  was  some  six  paces 
betwixt  each  man  of  them,  and  they  went  softly 
forward ;  Baudoin  went  first,  Hugh  second,  then 
Arthur ;  then  the  squire  and  the  sergeant  last  of 
all. 

Now  when  they  had  gone  but  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  the  squire  caught  up  with  Arthur,  and  spake 
to  him  softly,  and  said:  The  voice  of  the  swords 
has  been  silent  now  a  while,  and  1  heard  a  voice 


278     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

crying  out  e'en  now,  a  woman's  voice.  And  now 
again  I  could  well-nigh  deem  that  I  hear  horse- 
hoofs. 

Arthur  nodded  to  him,  and  they  went  but  a 
little  further  ere  he  said :  Lo,  lo  !  'tis  the  time  of 
the  eyes  now  !  Here  come  folk.  And  therewithal 
they  stayed  them.  For  the  wood  turned  somewhat 
here,  so  as  to  hide  all  but  a  little  of  the  plain,  and 
round  the  wood  neb  the  new-comers  hove  in  sight, 
and  were  close  on  them  at  once,  so  that  they  might 
see  them  clearly,  to  wit,  a  knight  weaponed,  clad 
all  in  red,  a  very  big  man,  riding  on  a  great  bay 
horse,  and  behind  him  a  woman  going  afoot  in  very 
piteous  plight ;  for  she  was  tethered  to  the  horse's 
crupper  by  a  thong  that  bound  her  wrists  together, 
so  that  she  had  but  just  room  left  'twixt  her  and  the 
horse  that  she  might  walk,  and  round  about  her 
neck  was  hung  a  man's  head  newly  hewn  off. 

This  sight  they  all  saw  at  once,  and  were  out  of 
the  wood  in  a  trice  with  weapons  aloft,  for  they 
knew  both  the  man  and  the  woman,  that  they  were 
the  Red  Knight  and  Birdalone. 

So  swift  and  sudden  had  they  been,  that  he  had 
no  time  either  to  spur  or  even  to  draw  his  sword ; 
but  he  had  a  heavy  steel  axe  in  his  hand  as  the  first 
man  came  up  to  him,  which  was  the  tall  Baudoin  ; 
and  therewith  he  smote  down  on  Baudoin  so  fierce 
and  huge  a  stroke,  that  came  on  him  betwixt  neck 
and  shoulder,  that  all  gave  way  before  it,  and  the 
Golden  Knight  fell  to  earth  all  carven  and  stark 
dead  :  but  even  therewith  fell  Hugh,  the  squire,  and 
the  sergeant  on  the  Red  Knight ;  for  Arthur  had 

cr5  CD  ' 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     279 

run  to  Birdalone  and  sheared  her  loose  from  her 
tether.  The  sergeant  smote  him  on  the  right  arm 
with  a  maul,  so  that  the  axe  fell  to  the  ground  ;  the 
squire's  sword  came  on  the  side  of  his  head,  and, 
as  it  was  cast  back,  beneath  the  stroke,  Hugh  thrust 
his  sword  through  the  throat  of  him,  and  down  he 
fell  unto  the  earth  and  was  dead  in  less  than  a 
minute. 

Then  gathered  the  others  round  about  Baudoin, 
and  saw  at  once  that  he  was  dead  ;  and  Birdalone 
came  thrusting  through  the  press  of  them,  and 
knelt  down  beside  him,  and  when  she  saw  her  friend 
so  piteously  dight,  she  wept  and  wailed  over  him 
as  one  who  might  not  be  comforted ;  and  Hugh 
stood  over  her  and  let  his  tears  fall  down  upon  the 
dead  man  ;  and  withal  the  squire  and  the  sergeant 
did  not  refrain  their  lamentations,  for  sore  beloved 
was  Sir  Baudoin  the  Golden  Knight. 

But  Arthur  spake  dry-eyed,  though  there  was 
grief  in  his  countenance,  and  he  said  :  Fellows,  and 
thou,  lady,  let  us  lament  afterwards,  but  now  is 
time  for  us  to  get  us  gone  hence  as  speedily  as  may 
be.  Yet  I  will  ask,  doth  any  know  whose  is  this  head 
that  the  slain  tyrant  here  had  hung  about  the  lady's 
neck  ?     May  the  fiends  curse  him  therefor ! 

Said  the  sergeant :  Yea,  lords,  that  wot  I ;  this 
is  the  head  of  the  Red  Knight's  captain  and  head 
man.  Sir  Thomas  of  Estcliffe  ;  one  of  the  hardiest 
of  knights  he  was  while  he  was  alive,  as  ye  surely 
wot,  lords  ;  neither,  as  I  have  heard  say,  was  he  as 
cruel  a  tyrant  as  his  lord  that  lieth  there  ready  for 
the  ravens. 


28o     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Now  had  Birdalone  arisen  and  was  standing 
facing  Arthur;  her  face  was  pale  and  full  of  anguish, 
and  she  was  dabbled  with  blood  from  the  dead  man's 
neck  ;  but  there  was  nought  of  shame  in  her  face 
as  she  stood  there  and  spoke  :  O  my  living  friends, 
who  have  but  now  saved  me,  ye  and  my  dead 
friends,  from  what  shame  and  death  I  know  not, 
the  tale  of  this  woeful  hap  is  over  long  to  tell  if  there 
be  peril  at  hand,  and  I  scarce  alive  from  dread  and 
sorrow ;  but  shortly  thus  it  is  :  This  man,  whose 
head  here  lieth,  entrapped  me  as  I  foolishly  wan- 
dered in  the  Black  Valley,  and  afterwards  delivered 
me,  and  was  leading  me  to  your  castle,  my  friends, 
when  this  other  one,  his  master,  the  tyrant  of  the 
Red  Hold,  came  upon  him,  and  fell  upon  him  and 
slew  him  as  a  traitor,  and  dighted  me  as  ye  saw. 
And  woe's  me  !  I  am  the  fool  whose  folly  has  slain 
your  friend  and  mine.  Wherefore  I  am  not  worthy 
of  your  fellowship,  and  ye  shall  cast  me  forth  of 
it ;  or  to  slay  me  were  better. 

So  she  spake,  gazing  earnestly  on  Arthur ;  and 
so  troubled  and  grieved,  that  she  might  well  have 
died  but  for  her  woodland  breeding,  and  the  toil 
of  the  days  she  had  won  through  in  the  House 
under  the  Wood. 

But  Hugh  spake  gently  to  her  and  said  :  Keep 
up  thine  heart  yet,  maiden  ;  for  the  hand  of  Fate  it 
is  that  led  thee,  and  none  doeth  grievously  amiss 
but  if  he  mean  wrong-doing  in  his  heart ;  and  we 
know  thee  for  true  ;  and  thou  hast  been  our  helper, 
and  brought  our  lovelings  unto  us  to  make  us 
happy. 


THE   TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     281 

But  she  brake  out  weeping  afresh,  and  said  :  O 
no,  no  !  it  is  but  woe  and  weariness  I  have  brought 
unto  my  friends  ;  and  to  myself  woe  and  weariness 
yet  more. 

And  she  looked  piteously  into  Arthur's  face, 
and  hard  and  stern  it  seemed  unto  her  ;  and  she 
writhed  and  wrung  her  hands  for  anguish.  But 
he  spake  and  said :  This  will  we  look  into  when 
we  be  safe  behind  our  walls,  and  see  what  she  hath 
done  amiss  and  what  not  amiss.  But  now  is  there 
but  one  thing  to  do,  and  that  is  to  get  us  speedily 
on  our  way  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  bind 
our  fellow's  body  on  his  horse  that  he  also  may  ride 
with  us,  and  the  lady  shall  ride  the  horse  of  the 
accursed  thief  Then  they  turned  to  go  toward 
their  horses ;  but  therewith  Birdalone  smote  her 
foot  against  the  slain  knight's  head,  and  shrank 
aback  from  it,  and  pointed  down  toward  it  and 
spake  no  word  ;  and  Hugh  said  :  Friends,  the  lady 
is  right,  this  at  least  we  will  cover  with  earth.  Do 
ye  go  fetch  hither  our  horses,  since  we  be  on  the 
road,  and  I  will  do  here  what  need  is  meanwhile. 

So  they  went  on  that  errand,  and  then  Hugh  and 
Birdalone  between  them  dug  a  hole  with  the  swords 
and  laid  the  head  of  the  captain  of  the  Red  Knight 
therein.  And  forsooth,  somewhat  would  Birdalone 
have  wept  for  him  had  she  had  a  tear  to  spare. 

Then  they  fell  to  and  bound  the  dead  Baudoin 
on  the  Red  Knight's  mighty  bay  steed,  so  that  no 
time  might  be  wasted ;  and  when  that  was  done, 
and  the  others  had  not  come  back  with  their  horses, 
Hugh  took  Birdalone's  hand  and  led  her  down  to 


282     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

the  stream  and  washed  the  gore  off  her  bosom,  and 
she  washed  her  face  and  her  hands  and  let  him  lead 
her  back  again  in  such  wise  that  now  she  could 
hearken  to  the  words  of  comfort  he  spake  to  her, 
and  piteous  kind  he  seemed  unto  her ;  so  that  at 
last  she  plucked  up  heart,  and  asked  him  how  Viri- 
dis  did.  Quoth  he :  They  be  all  safe  at  home  in 
the  castle,  and  Viridis  is  well  and  loveth  thee  well. 
And  Aurea  was  well,  woe  worth  the  while  for  her 
now !  As  for  Atra,  she  has  not  been  so  glad  as  the 
other  twain,  I  wot  not  wherefore. 

Even  as  he  spake  were  the  others  come  up  with 
the  horses,  and  Arthur  nodded  yeasay  when  he  saw 
what  had  been  done  with  Baudoin  dead ;  and  so 
they  gat  to  horse,  and  Birdalone  it  was  that  rode 
Baudoin's  steed.  Then  they  went  their  ways, 
crossing  the  river  into  the  wood  ;  and  the  sergeant 
was  ever  way-leader,  but  the  squire  led  the  horse 
which  bore  the  sorrowful  burden  of  the  dead  Knight 
of  the  Quest. 


CHAPTER  V.    THEY  COME  HOME  TO 
THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  OUEST. 

NOW  they  had  gone  but  some  three  hours, 
riding  dreary  and  nigh  speechless  all  of 
them,  ere  they  began  to  know  the  land  they 
were  in,  and  that  they  were  coming  to  the  place 
where  they  might  look  presently  to  fall  in  with  Sir 
Aymeris  and  his  company  ;  and  even  so  the  meet- 
ing betid,  that  they  saw  men  standing  and  going 
about  their  horses  beside  a  little  wood,  and  knew 
them  presently  for  their  folk,  who  mounted  at  once 
and  spurred  forward  to  meet  them,  spears  aloft. 
Speedily  then  was  the  joy  of  those  abiders  turned 
into  sorrow,  nor  may  the  grief  of  Sir  Aymeris  be 
told,  so  great  it  was  ;  and  Birdalone  looked  on  and 
saw  the  mourning  and  lamentation  of  the  warriors, 
and  eked  was  her  anguish  of  mind  ;  and  she  beheld 
Arthur  the  Black  Squire,  how  he  sat  still  upon  his 
horse  with  a  hard  and  dreary  countenance,  and 
looked  on  those  mourners  almost  as  if  he  con- 
temned them.  But  Sir  Aymeris  came  up  to  Bird- 
alone,  and  knelt  before  her  and  kissed  her  hand, 
and  said  :  If  my  heart  might  rejoice  in  aught,  as 
some  day  it  will,  it  would  rejoice  in  seeing  thee  safe 
and  sound,  lady  ;  here  at  least  is  gain  to  set  beside 
the  loss. 

She  thanked  him,  but  looked  askance  toward 
Arthur,  who  said  :  If  that  be  gain,  yet  is  there  more, 
for  the  Red  Knight  lieth  in  the  green  plain  for  a 
supper  to  the  wolf  and  the  crow.  Vengeance  there 
hath  been,  and  belike  more  yet  may  come.      But 


284     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

now,  if  ye  have  lamented  as  much  as  ye  deem  be- 
fitteth  warriors,  let  us  tarry  here  no  longer;  for  even 
yet  meseemeth  shall  we  be  safer  behind  walls,  now 
that  our  chief  and  captain  is  slain,  I  scarce  know 
in  what  quarrel. 

None  naysaid  it,  so  they  all  rode  forth  together, 
and  the  sergeant  and  the  squire  and  Sir  Hugh  told 
of  their  tale  what  they  might  to  Sir  Aymeris  and 
the  others;  but  Arthur  held  his  peace,  and  rode 
aloof  from  Birdalone,  whereas  Sir  Aymeris  and 
Hugh  rode  on  either  side  of  her,  and  did  not  spare 
to  comfort  her  what  they  might. 

They  rode  straight  on,  and  made  no  stay  for 
nightfall,  and  thus  came  home  to  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest  before  the  day  was  full ;  and  woeful  was  their 
entry  as  they  went  in  the  dawn  underneath  the  gate 
of  the  said  castle,  and  soon  was  the  whole  house 
astir  and  lamenting. 

As  for  Birdalone,  when  she  got  down  from  her 
horse  in  the  gateway,  and  was  stiff  and  weary  of 
body,  and  all  dazed  and  confused  of  mind,  there 
was  but  little  life  in  her ;  nor  could  she  so  much 
as  think  of  the  new  day  and  Aurea's  awakening, 
but  crept  up  unto  her  own  chamber,  so  long  as  it 
seemed  since  she  had  left  it,  though  it  was  but  a 
little  while  ;  and  she  cast  herself  upon  the  bed  and 
fell  asleep  whether  she  would  or  not,  and  so  for- 
gat  her  much  sorrow  and  her  little  hope. 


CHAPTER    VI.       OF    THE    TALK    BE- 
TWIXT  BIRDALONE   AND   VIRIDIS. 

WHEN  she  woke  again,  she  had  slept  the 
night  away,  and  it  was  broad  day^  and  for 
a  moment  she  lay  wondering  what  was 
the  burden  upon  her ;  but  presently  she  called  it 
all  to  mind,  and  deemed  it  were  well  might  she  for- 
get it  all  again.  Anon  she  became  aware  of  some- 
one moving  about  the  chamber,  and  she  looked 
about  unhappily ;  and  lo !  a  woman,  fair  and  dainty, 
clad  all  in  green,  and  it  was  Viridis  that  had  come 
there.  But  when  she  saw  Birdalone  stirring,  she 
came  up  to  her  and  kissed  her  sweetly  and  kindly, 
and  wept  over  her,  so  that  Birdalone  might  nowise 
refrain  her  tears.  But  when  she  might  cease  weep- 
ing, she  said  to  Viridis :  Tell  me,  art  thou  weeping 
for  thy  friend  who  is  lost,  and  who  shall  be  thy 
friend  no  more;  or  thy  friend  whom  thou  hast 
found?  Said  Viridis:  Forsooth  I  have  wept  for  Bau- 
doin  plenteously,  and  he  is  worthy  of  it,  for  he  was 
valiant  and  true  and  kind.  Said  Birdalone:  True 
is  that;  but  I  meant  not  my  question  so;  but  rather 
I  would  ask  thee  if  thou  weepest  because  thine  heart 
must  needs  cast  me  away,  or  because  thou  hast 
found  me  again  ?  Quoth  Viridis  :  Whoso  may  be 
dead,  or  whoso  alive,  but  if  it  were  Hugh,  my  love- 
ling,  I  were  rejoiced  beyond  measure  to  find  thee, 
my  friend.  And  again  she  kissed  her  as  one  who 
was  glad  and  kind.  But  for  new  rest  of  soul  and 
for  joy,  Birdalone  fell  a-weeping  afresh. 

Again  she  spake:  And  what  mind    have    the 


286     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

others  about  me  ?  For  thou  art  but  one,  though 
the  dearest,  save  .  .  .  And  would  they  punish 
me  for  my  fault  and  folly  that  has  slain  the  best 
man  in  the  world  ?  If  the  punishment  be  short  of 
putting  me  forth  of  their  fellowship,  I  were  fain 
thereof 

Viridis  laughed  :  Forsooth,  she  said,  they  have 
much  to  punish  thee  for  !  whereas  it  was  by  thy 
doing  and  thy  valiance  that  we  all  came  together 
again  and  the  Quest  was  accomplished.  Nay,  but 
tell  me,  said  Birdalone,  what  do  they  say  of  me, 
each  one  of  them  ? 

Viridis  reddened ;  she  said :  Hugh,  my  mate, 
saith  all  good  of  thee  ;  though  no  one  of  carl-folk 
may  be  sorrier  of  the  loss  of  his  fellow.  Aurea  lay- 
eth  not  the  death  of  her  man  upon  thee  ;  and  she 
saith  :  When  the  fountain  of  tears  is  dried  up  in  me, 
I  will  see  her  and  comfort  her,  as  she  me.  Atra 
saith  :  she  saith  but  little,  yet  she  saith  :  So  is  it 
fated.  I  had  done  belike  no  better,  but  worse  than 
she. 

Now  turned  Birdalone  red  and  then  pale  again, 
and  she  said,  but  in  a  quavering  voice :  And  the 
Black  Squire,  Arthur,  what  sayeth  he  ?  Said  Viri- 
dis :  He  sayeth  nought  of  thee,  but  that  he  would 
hear  all  the  tale  of  what  befell  thee  in  the  Black 
Valley.  Sweet  friend,  said  Birdalone,  I  pray  thee 
of  thy  kindness  and  sweetness  that  thou  go  unto 
him  presently  and  bring  him  in  hither,  and  then  I 
will  tell  him  all ;  and  he  and  thou  and  I  together. 

Viridis  said :  There  is  this  to  be  said,  that  when 
a  man  loveth  a  woman  he  coveteth  her,  to  have  her 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     287 

all  wholly  to  himself,  and  hard  and  evil  he  groweth 
for  the  time  that  he  misdoubteth  her  whom  he 
loveth.  And  I  will  tell  thee  that  this  man  is  jeal- 
ous lest  thou  wert  never  so  little  kind  to  the  slain 
stranger  knight  whose  head  the  tyrant  hung  about 
thee.  Furthermore,  I  fear  there  is  no  help  for  it 
that  thou  wilt  undo  the  happiness  of  one  of  us,  that 
is  Atra ;  yet  were  it  better  that  that  befell  later 
than  sooner.  And  if  Sir  Arthur  come  in  here  to 
thee,  and  hath  thy  tale  with  none  beside  save  me, 
meseemsthepoor  Atra  will  feel  a  bitter  smart  because 
of  it.  Were  it  not  better  that  we  all  meet  presently 
in  the  solar,  and  that  there  thou  tell  thy  tale  to  us 
all?  and  thereafter  shall  we  tell  the  tale  of  our  de- 
liverance and  our  coming  hither.  And  thus  doing, 
it  will  seem  less  like  to  the  breaking  up  of  our 
fellowship. 

Said  Birdalone  :  It  will  be  hard  for  me  to  tell  my 
tale  before  Atra  and  before  him.  Might  it  not  be 
that  thou  hearken  to  it  here  and  now,  and  tell  it  to 
the  others  hereafter  ?  Nay,  nay,  said  Viridis,  I  am 
not  a  proper  minstrel  to  take  the  word  out  of  thy 
mouth.  Never  shall  I  be  able  to  tell  it  so  that  they 
shall  trow  it  as  if  they  had  seen  it  all.  Besides, 
when  all  is  told,  then  shall  we  be  more  bound 
together  again.  I  pray  thee,  and  I  pray  thee,  sweet, 
do  so  much  for  me  as  to  tell  thy  tale  to  the  fellow- 
ship of  us.  And  if  it  be  hard  to  thee,  look  upon 
it  as  my  share  of  the  punishment  which  is  due  to 
thee  for  falling  into  that  mishap. 

Smiled  Birdalone  ruefully,  and  said :  So  be  it ; 
and  may  the  share  of  the  others  be  as  light  as  thine, 


288     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

sister.  Yet  soothly  were  I  liefer  that  my  body  and 
my  skin  should  pay  the  forfeit.  But  now,  since  I 
must  needs  do  this,  the  sooner  is  the  better  me- 
seemeth. 

In  a  little  half  hour,  said  Viridis,  will  I  bring 
what  is  left  of  our  fellowship  into  the  solar  to 
hearken  thee.  So  come  thou  there  unto  us  when 
thou  art  clad.  And  hear  thou  !  be  not  too  meek 
and  humble,  and  bow  thyself  to  us  in  fear  of  our 
sorrow.  For  whereas  thou  didst  speak  of  our  pun- 
ishing thee,  there  will  be  one  there  whom  thou  mayst 
easily  punish  to  thy  pleasure  ;  forsooth,  friend,  I  rue 
that  so  it  is  ;  but  since  it  will  not  better  be,  what 
may  I  do  but  wish  thee  happy  and  him  also. 

Therewith  she  turned  and  went  out  of  the  cham- 
ber, and  Birdalone,  left  to  herself,  felt  a  secret  joy 
in  her  soul  that  she  might  not  master,  despite  the 
sorrow  of  her  friends,  whatever  it  might  be. 


CHAPTER  VII.  BIRDALONE  TELL- 
ETH  THE  TALE  OF  HER  WAN- 
DERING UP  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE 
GREYWETHERS. 

NOW  Viridis  did  as  she  said,  and  brought  them 
all  into  the  solar ;  there  was  none  lacking 
save  Baudoin,  and  they  sat  silently  in  a  half 
ring,  till  the  door  opened  and  Birdalone  came  in  to 
them,  clad  all  simply  in  but  a  black  coat ;  and  she 
made  obeisance  to  them,  and  stood  there  with  her 
head  bent  down  as  if  they  were  her  judges,  for  so 
in  sooth  she  deemed  them.  Then  Hush  bade  her 
sit  down  amongst  them  ;  but  she  said  :  Nay,  I  will 
not  sit  amongst  you  till  ye  have  heard  my  story, 
and  ye  have  told  me  that  I  am  yet  of  your  fellow- 
ship. None  said  aught ;  Atra  looked  straight  be- 
fore her,  and  her  eyes  met  not  Birdalone's  eyes  ; 
Arthur  looked  down  on  the  ground ;  but  Hugh 
and  Viridis  looked  kindly  on  Birdalone,  and  to 
Viridis'  eyes  the  tears  were  come. 

Then  spake  Birdalone  and  said :  I  am  here  as 
one  that  hath  done  amiss  ;  but  I  will  tell  you,  so 
that  ye  may  not  think  worse  of  me  than  ye  should, 
that  when  ye  were  gone,  ye  Champions,  and  the 
time  wore  long  that  ye  came  not  again,  it  lay  heavy 
on  my  heart,  and  hope  waned  and  fear  waxed,  and 
my  soul  so  grieved  my  body  that  I  thought  to  fall 
sick  thereof,  and  I  knew  that  it  would  be  ill  for  you 
to  come  home  hither  and  find  me  sick ;  so  that  I 
longed  sore  to  do  somewhat  which  should  make 
me  whole  again.     Then  weird  would  that  I  should 

19 


290     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

hear  all  the  tale  of  the  Black  Valley  of  the  Grey- 
wethers,  and  of  how  therein  is  whiles  granted 
fulfilment  of  desire ;  and  methought  how  well  it 
were  if  I  might  seek  the  adventure  there  and  accom- 
plish it.  Thereof,  doubtless,  hath  the  chaplain,  Sir 
Leonard,  told  you  ;  but  this  furthermore  would  I 
say,  that  his  doing  herein  was  nought ;  all  was  done 
by  my  doing  and  by  my  bidding,  and  he  might  not 
choose  but  do  it.  Wherefore  I  do  pray  you  all 
earnestly  that  ye  keep  no  grudge  against  him,  but 
pardon  him  all.  Tell  me,  then,  will  ye  do  thus 
much  ? 

Said  Hugh  :  Let  him  be  pardoned,  if  he  can  take 
pardon.  But  Arthur  spake  not,  and  Birdalone 
looked  on  him  anxiously,  and  her  face  was  moved, 
and  it  was  with  her  throat  as  if  she  had  swallowed 
something  down.  Then  she  spake  again,  and  fell 
to  tell  them  all  that  had  betid  to  her  when  she  went 
to  the  Black  Valley,  even  as  is  hereafore  writ,  hid- 
ing nought  that  had  been  done  and  said;  and  freely 
she  told  it,  without  fear  or  shame,  and  with  such 
clearness  and  sweetness  ofwordsthatnooneof  them 
doubted  her  aught ;  and  Arthur  lifted  up  his  head, 
and  once  and  again  his  eyes  met  hers,  and  there  was 
nought  of  hardness  in  them,  though  they  turned 
away  at  once. 

So  at  last  fell  Birdalone  to  telling  what  betid  after 
they  two,  the  stranger  knight  and  she,  left  the  valley 
of  the  force  and  fell  to  riding  the  wildwood  with 
their  heads  turned  toward  the  Castle  of  the  Quest ; 
and  she  said : 

When  we  turned  into  the  wood  away  from  the 


THE   TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     29 1 

said  valley  it  lacked  some  four  hours  of  noon  ;  and 
we  rode  till  noon  was,  and  rested  by  a  stream-side 
and  ate,  for  we  knew  no  cause  wherefore  we  should 
hasten  overmuch ;  but  my  fellow  the  strange  knight 
was  downcast  and  heavy,  and  some  might  have  called 
him  sullen.  But  I  strove  to  make  him  of  better 
cheer,  and  spake  to  him  kindly,  as  to  one  who  of 
an  enemy  had  become  a  friend  ;  but  he  answered 
me :  Lady,  it  availeth  not ;  I  grieve  that  I  am  no 
better  company  than  thou  seest  me,  and  I  have 
striven  to  be  merrier  ;  but  apart  from  all  that  I  wot 
and  that  thou  wottest  which  should  make  me  of 
evil  cheer,  there  is  now  a  weight  upon  my  heart 
which  I  cannot  lift,  such  as  never  have  I  felt  erst. 
So  by  thy  leave  we  will  to  horse  at  once,  that  we 
may  the  speedier  come  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest 
and  Sir  Aymeris'  prison. 

So  I  arose,  but  smiled  on  him  and  said :  Hold 
up  thine  heart,  friend  !  for  thee  shall  be  no  prison 
at  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  but  the  fair  welcome  of 
friends.  He  said  nought,  and  mended  not  his 
cheer  ;  and  in  this  plight  we  gat  to  horse  and  rode 
on  for  some  three  hours  more,  till  we  came  out  of 
the  thick  forest  into  a  long  clearing,  which  went 
like  a  wide  highway  of  greensv/ard  between  the 
thicket,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  hand  of  man  had 
cleared  that  said  green  road.  Thereto  we  had 
come,  following  a  little  river  which  came  out  on  to 
the  clearing  with  us,  and  then,  turning,  ran  well- 
nigh  amidst  it  toward  the  north. 

Now  when  we  were  come  thither,  and  were  be- 
twixt the  thicket  and  the  water's  edge,  we  drew 


292     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

rein,  and  it  seemed  to  me  as  fair  a  stead  as  might 
be  in  the  woodland,  and  I  looked  thereon  well 
pleased  and  with  a  happy  heart.  But  the  knight 
said  :  Lady,  art  thou  not  exceeding  weary  ?  Nay, 
said  I,  not  in  any  wise.  Said  he  :  It  is  strange 
then,  for  so  weary  am  I,  that  I  must  in  any  case 
get  off  my  horse  and  lay  me  down  on  the  grass 
here,  or  I  shall  drop  from  the  saddle.  And  there- 
with he  lighted  down  and  stood  by  me  a  little,  as 
to  help  me  off  my  horse ;  but  I  said  to  him :  Knight, 
I  pray  thee,  even  if  ye  be  weary,  to  struggle  for- 
ward a  little,  lest  we  be  in  peril  here.  In  peril  ? 
quoth  he  ;  yea,  that  might  be  if  the  Red  Knight 
knew  of  our  whereabouts  ;  but  how  should  that 
be  ?  He  spoke  this  heavily,  as  one  scarce  awake ; 
and  then  he  said :  I  pray  thee  pardon  me,  lady, 
but  for  nought  may  I  hold  my  head  up  ;  suffer  me 
to  sleep  but  a  little,  and  then  will  I  arise  and  lead  thee 
straight  to  thy  journey's  end.  Therewithal  he  laid 
him  down  on  the  grass  and  was  presently  asleep, 
and  I  sat  down  by  him  all  dismayed.  At  first,  in- 
deed, I  doubted  some  treachery  in  him,  for  how 
might  I  trust  him  wholly  after  all  that  had  come 
and  gone  ?  but  when  I  saw  that  there  was  no  feign- 
ing in  his  sleep,  I  set  that  doubt  aside,  and  knew 
not  what  to  make  of  it. 

Thus  passed  an  hour,  and  from  time  to  time  I 
shook  him  and  strove  to  waken  him,  but  it  was  all 
in  vain  ;  so  I  knew  none  other  rede  than  to  abide 
his  awakening ;  for  I  knew  not  the  way  to  take 
toward  this  castle  ;  and,  moreover,  though  he  were 
a  knight,  and  armed,  yet  might  it  be  perilous  for 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S   ENDING     293 

him  if  he  were  left  there  alone  and  unguarded  ;  so 
I  abode. 

But  now  came  new  tidings.  Methought  I  heard 
the  sound  of  the  tinkhng  of  weapons  and  armour  ; 
the  green  highway  so  turned  that  a  wood  neb  about 
an  hundred  yards  to  the  north  hid  it  from  my  sight, 
so  that  a  man  might  have  drawn  somewhat  near  to 
us  without  being  seen,  came  he  on  the  hither  side 
of  the  river.  So  I  stood  up  hastily,  and  strung  my 
bow,  and  took  a  shaft  in  my  fingers,  and  no  sooner 
was  it  done  than  there  came  a  rider  round  about 
the  aforesaid  wood  neb.  He  was  all-armed  and  had 
a  red  surcoat,  and  rode  a  great  shining  bay  horse. 
I  kept  my  eye  upon  him  while  I  stirred  the  sleep- 
ing knight  with  my  foot,  and  cried  to  him  to  wake, 
but  he  scarce  moved,  and  but  uttered  words  with- 
out sense. 

Now  the  new-comer  drew  rein  for  a  moment 
when  he  saw  us,  and  then  moved  on  a  little  toward 
me,  but  I  nocked  a  shaft  and  pointed  it  at  him, 
and  cried  out  to  him  to  stay.  Then  I  heard  a  great 
rattling  laugh  come  from  him,  and  he  shouted  : 
Nay,  do  thou  stay,  fair  wood-wife,  and  I  will  risk 
thy  shafts  to  come  at  thee.  But  why  doth  not  the 
sluggard  at  thy  feet  rise  up  and  stand  before  me, 
if  he  be  thy  loveling  ?  Or  is  he  dead  ?  His  voice 
was  harsh  and  big,  and  I  feared  him  sore ;  and  it 
was  as  much  because  of  fear  as  of  hardihood,  that 
I  drew  and  loosed  straightway  ;  and  doubtless  it 
was  because  of  fear  that  I  saw  my  shaft  fly  an  inch 
or  so  over  his  right  shoulder.  I  heard  his  rat- 
ling  laugh  again,  and  saw  him  bend  forward  as  he 


294     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

spurred;  I  knew  that  time  lacked  for  drawing 
another  shaft,  so  I  caught  up  my  skirts  and  ran 
all  I  might ;  but  swift-foot  as  I  be,  it  availed  me 
nought,  for  I  was  cumbered  with  my  gown,  and 
moreover  I  was  confused  with  not  knowing  whither 
to  run,  since  I  wotted  that  in  the  water  the  horse 
would  do  better  than  I. 

So  he  was  up  with  me  in  a  twinkling,  and  reached 
out  his  hand  and  caught  hold  of  me  by  the  hair, 
and  tugged  me  to  him  as  he  reined  back  his  horse. 
Then  he  laughed  again  and  said :  Forsooth  she 
will  look  better  when  she  is  no  longer  reddened 
and  roughened  with  fleeing ;  and,  by  Red  Peter ! 
what  limbs  she  hath.  Then  he  let  me  loose  and 
got  off  his  horse,  and  shoved  me  on  before  him 
till  we  came  to  where  the  Black  One  lay  still  sleep- 
ing heavily.  Then  the  Red  Knight  stood  over 
against  me,  and  looked  hard  into  my  face ;  and  I 
saw  how  huge  a  man  he  was,  and  how  a  lock  of 
bright  red  hair  came  out  from  under  his  sallet. 
His  eyes  were  green  and  fierce  underneath  shaggy 
red  eyebrows ;  terrible  he  was  to  look  on. 

Now  he  spake  fiercely  and  roughly,  and  as  though 
he  had  something  against  me  :  Tell  me,  thou,  who 
thou  art  and  who  this  is  ?  I  answered  nought,  for 
fear  had  frozen  my  speech.  He  stamped  his  foot 
on  the  ground  and  cried  :  Hah  !  art  thou  gone 
dumb  ?  Speak  !  thou  wert  best !  I  said,  all  quak- 
ing :  My  name  is  Birdalone  ;  I  belong  to  no  one  ; 
I  have  no  kindred  :  as  for  this  man,  I  know  not 
his  name.  He  said  :  Comest  thou  from  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest  ?     Art  thou  the  whore  of  those  lily- 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     295 

and-rose  champions  there  ?  My  heart  was  hot  with 
anger  in  spite  of  my  dread,  but  I  spake :  I  came 
from  the  Castle  of  the  Quest.  He  said  :  And  this 
man  (therewith  he  turned  about  and  spurned  him 
in  the  side),  where  didst  thou  happen  upon  him  ? 
Again  I  was  silent,  and  he  roared  out  at  me  :  So 
thou  wilt  not  answer  !  Beware,  or  I  may  see  how 
to  compel  the  speech  of  thee.  Now  answer  me 
this :  Was  it  in  the  Black  Valley  of  the  Grey- 
wethers  that  ye  two  came  together  ?  Again  I  knew 
not  how  to  answer,  lest  I  might  do  a  wrong  to  him 
who  had  repented  him  of  the  wrong  he  had  done 
me.  But  the  Red  Knight  burst  out  a-laughing 
and  said :  It  shall  be  remembered  against  thee,  first, 
that  thou  didst  let  fly  a  shaft  at  me ;  second,  that 
thou  didst  run  from  me  ;  and  thirdly,  that  thou 
hast  been  slack  in  answering  my  questions.  But 
all  this  scathes  me  nought ;  first,  because  thy  shaft 
missed  me ;  second,  because  thy  legs  failed  thee 
(though  they  were  fair  to  look  on,  running) ;  and 
third,  because  all  thou  canst  tell  me  I  know  with- 
out thine  answering.  Now  thee  will  I  tell  that  this 
is  Friday,  and  that  ye  two  first  met  in  the  Black  Val- 
ley on  Tuesday  ;  now  I  will  ask  this  last  question, 
and  thou  mayst  answer  it  or  not  as  thou  wilt ;  for 
presently  I  shall  wake  this  brisk  and  stirring  knight, 
and  I  deem  that  he  will  tell  me  the  truth  of  this 
if  of  nought  else.  Tell  me,  thou  whore  of  the 
Questing  Champions,  where  and  how  many  times 
thou  hast  lain  in  this  good  knight's  arms  since  last 
Tuesday  ^  Nowhere  and  never,  quoth  I.  Thou 
liest,  I  doubt  thee,  said  the  Red  Knight ;  howso- 


296     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

ever,  let  us  see  what  this  doughty  one  will  say. 
Hah  !  thou  deemest  he  shall  be  hard  to  wake  up, 
dost  thou  not !  Well,  I  shall  see  to  that.  He  who 
giveth  sleep  may  take  it  away  again. 

Therewith  he  went  up  to  the  Black  One  and 
stooped  adown  over  his  head,  and  spake  some 
words  over  him,  but  so  softly  that  I  heard  not  their 
import ;  and  straightway  the  sleeper  rose  up  so 
suddenly  that  he  wellnigh  smote  against  the  Red 
Knight.  He  ^tood  awhile  staggering,  and  blink- 
ing at  the  other  one,  but  somehow  got  his  sword 
drawn  forth,  and  the  Red  Knight  hindered  him 
nought  therein,  but  spake  anon  when  the  other 
was  come  to  himself  somewhat :  The  sele  of  the 
day  to  thee.  Sir  Thomas,  True  Thomas !  Fair  is 
thy  bed,  and  most  fair  thy  bedfellow. 

The  Black  Knight  drew  aback  from  him  and  was 
now  come  awake,  wherefore  he  stood  on  his  guard, 
but  said  nought.  Then  said  the  Red  Knight :  Sir 
Thomas,  1  have  been  asking  this  fair  lady  a  ques- 
tion, but  her  memory  faileth  her  and  she  may  not 
answer  it ;  perchance  thou  mayst  do  better.  Tell 
me  where  and  how  many  times  hast  thou  bedded 
her  betwixt  last  Tuesday  and  this  ?  Nowhere  and 
never,  cried  Sir  Thomas,  knitting  his  brows  and 
handling  his  sword.  Hah,  said  the  Red  Knight, 
an  echo  of  her  speech  is  this.  Lo,  the  tale  ye  have 
made  up  betwixt  you.  But  at  least,  having  done 
mine  errand,  though  meseemeth  somewhat  leis- 
urely, and  having  gotten  the  woman  for  me,  thou 
art  now  bringing  her  on  to  the  Red  Hold,  what- 
ever thou  hast  done  with  her  on  the  road  ?     I  am 


THE    TALE   OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     297 

not,  said  my  fellow,  I  am  leading  her  away  from 
the  Red  Hold.  Pity  of  thee,  quoth  the  other,  that 
thou  hast  fallen  in  with  me,  and  thou  but  half-armed. 
And  he  raised  aloft  his  sword  ;  but  presently  sank 
it  again,  and  let  the  point  rest  on  the  earth. 

Then  he  spoke  again,  not  mockingly  as  erst : 
A  word  before  we  end  it,  Thomas :  thou  hast 
hitherto  done  well  by  me,  as  I  by  thee.  I  say  thou 
hast  gotten  this  woman,  and  I  doubt  not  that  at 
first  thou  hadst  the  mind  to  bring  her  to  me  un- 
minished ;  but  then  thou  wert  overcome  by  her 
beauty,  as  forsooth  I  know  thee  woman-mad,  and 
thou  hadst  meant  to  keep  her  for  thyself,  as  for- 
sooth I  marvel  not.  But  in  thy  love-making  thou 
hast  not  bethought  thee  that  keep  her  to  thyself 
thou  mayst  not  while  I  am  above  ground,  save 
thou  bewray  me,  and  join  thee  to  my  foemen  and 
thine.  Because  I  am  such  a  man,  that  what  I  desire 
that  will  I  have.  For  this  reason,  when  I  mis- 
doubted me  of  thee  for  thy  much-tarrying,  I  cast 
the  sleep  over  thee,  and  have  caught  thee.  For 
what  wilt  thou  do  ?  Doubt  it  not,  that  if  our  swords 
meet,  I  shall  pay  thee  for  trying  to  take  my  bed- 
thrall  from  me  by  taking  from  thee  no  more  than 
thy  life.  But  now  will  I  forgive  thee  all  if  thou 
wilt  ride  home  quietly  with  me  and  this  damsel- 
errant  to  the  Red  Hold,  and  let  her  be  mine  and 
not  thine  so  long  as  I  will ;  and  then  afterwards,  if 
thou  wilt,  she  shall  be  thine  as  long  as  thou  wilt. 
Now  behold,  both  this  chance  and  thy  life  is  a  mere 
gift  of  me  to  thee,  for  otherwise  thou  shalt  have 
neither  damsel  nor  life. 


298     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Yea,  yea,  said  my  friend,  I  know  what  thou 
wouldest :  I  have  been  no  unhandy  devil  to  thee 
this  long  while,  and  thou  wouldst  fain  keep  me 
still ;  but  now  I  will  be  devil  no  longer,  on  this 
earth  at  least,  but  will  die  and  take  my  luck  of  it. 
And  do  thou,  God,  see  to  the  saving  of  this  dam- 
sel, since  thou  hast  taken  the  matter  out  of  my 
hands.     Farewell,  dear  maiden  ! 

Scarce  was  the  word  out  of  his  mouth  ere  his 
sword  was  in  the  air,  and  he  smote  so  fierce  and 
straight  that  he  beat  down  the  huge  man's  blade, 
and,  ere  he  could  master  it  again,  smote  the  Red 
Knight  so  heavily  on  the  crest  that  he  fell  to  his 
knees  ;  and  the  heart  rose  in  me,  for  I  deemed  that 
he  might  yet  prevail ;  and  in  as  'twere  a  flash  I  be- 
thought me  of  the  knife  at  my  girdlestead,  and 
drew  it  and  ran  to  the  Red  Knight,  and  tore  aside 
his  mail  hood  with  one  hand  and  thrust  the  knife 
into  his  shoulder  with  the  other  ;  but  so  mighty 
was  he  that  he  heeded  nought  the  hurt,  but  swept 
his  sword  back-handed  at  the  Black  Knight's  un- 
armed leg,  and  smote  him  so  sore  a  wound  that  down 
he  fell  clattering.  Then  arose  the  Red  Knight,  and 
thrust  me  from  him  with  the  left  hand,  and  strode 
over  my  fellow-farer  and  thrust  his  sword  through 
his  throat.  Then  he  turned  to  me,  and  spake  in 
a  braying  voice  as  if  a  harsh  horn  were  blown  : 
Abide  thou  ;  if  thou  takest  one  step  I  will  slay  thee 
at  once.  So  he  went  and  sat  down  on  a  bank  a 
little  way  from  the  dead  man,  and  wiped  his  sword 
on  the  grass  and  laid  it  beside  him,  and  so  sat  pon- 
dering a  while.     Thereafter  he  called  me  to  him. 


THE   TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     299 

and  bade  me  stand  In  face  of  him  with  my  hands 
clasped  before  me.  Then  he  spake  to  me  :  Thou 
art  my  thrall  and  my  having,  since  I  had  thus 
doomed  it  no  few  days  ago ;  and  thou  art  now  in 
my  hands  for  me  to  do  with  as  I  will.  Now  in- 
stead of  being  meek  and  obedient  to  me  thou  hast 
rebelled  against  me,  shot  an  arrow  at  me,  run  from 
me,  denied  answer  to  my  questions,  and  thrust  a 
knife  into  me.  To  be  short,  thou  hast  made  thy- 
self my  foe.  Furthermore,  it  is  by  thy  doing  that 
I  have  lost  a  right  good  servant  and  a  trusty  fellow, 
and  one  that  I  loved  ;  it  is  thou  that  hast  slain  him. 
Now  have  I  been  pondering  what  I  shall  do  with 
thee.  I  said  :  If  I  have  deserved  the  death,  then 
make  an  end  and  slay  me  presently  ;  but  bring  me 
not  to  thine  house,  I  pray  thee.  I  pray  by  the 
mother  that  bore  thee  ! 

Quoth  he  :  Hold  thy  peace,  it  is  not  what  thou 
deservest  that  I  am  looking  to,  but  what  shall 
pleasure  me.  Now  hearken  ;  I  say  that  thou  hast 
made  thee  my  foe,  and  I  have  overcome  thee  ;  thou 
art  my  runaway  thrall,  and  I  have  caught  thee. 
As  my  foe  I  might  slay  thee  in  any  evil  way  it 
might  like  me  ;  as  my  thrall  I  might  well  chastise 
thee  as  sharply  and  as  bitterly  as  I  would.  But  it 
is  not  my  pleasure  to  slay  thee,  rather  I  will  bring 
thee  to  the  Red  Hold,  and  there  see  what  we  may 
make  of  thee ;  whereas  I  cannot  but  deem  that  in 
thee  is  the  making  of  somewhat  more  than  a  thrall ; 
and  if  not,  then  a  thrall  must  thou  needs  be.  Again 
as  to  the  chastising  of  thee,  that  also  I  forgive  thee 
since  I  have  gotten  the  hope  aforesaid.     Yet  for- 


300     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

sooth  some  shame  must  I  do  thee  to  pay  thee  back 
for  the  love  that  was  betwixt  thee  and  the  slain 
man.  I  will  ponder  what  it  shall  be ;  but  take 
heed  that  whatsoever  it  shall  be,  it  will  not  avail 
thee  to  pray  me  to  forego  it,  though  thy  speech  be 
as  fair  and  sweet  as  thy  body. 

Therewith  he  was  silent  a  while,  and  I  stood 
there  not  daring  to  move,  and  my  heart  was  so 
downcast  that  all  the  sweetness  of  life  seemed  de- 
parted. Yet  I  withheld  lamentations  or  prayers, 
thinking  within  myself,  who  knows  what  occasion 
may  be  between  this  and  the  Red  Hold  for  my 
escaping ;  let  me  keep  myself  alive  for  that  if  it 
may  be. 

Presently  he  arose  and  took  his  sword,  and  went 
up  to  the  slain  man's  body  and  smote  the  head 
from  off  it.  Then  he  went  to  the  two  horses  of 
Sir  Thomas  and  of  me,  and  took  from  them  such 
gear  of  girths  and  thongs  as  he  would,  and  there- 
with he  dight  me  as  ye  saw,  doing  a  girth  about  my 
middle  and  making  me  fast  to  a  line  wherewith  to 
hold  me  in  tow.  And  then  he  did  that  other  thing 
which  sickens  my  very  soul  to  tell  of,  to  wit,  that 
he  took  the  slain  man's  head  and  tied  a  lace  there- 
to, and  hung  it  about  my  neck  ;  and  as  he  did  so, 
he  said  :  This  jewel  shalt  thou  thyself  bear  to  mine 
house;  and  there  belike  shall  we  lay  it  in  earth, 
since  the  man  was  my  trusty  fellow.  Lo  now,  this 
is  all  the  ill  I  shall  do  thee  till  it  be  tried  of  what 
avail  thou  art.  This  is  a  shaming  to  thee  and  not 
a  torment,  for  I  will  ride  a  foot's-pace,  and  the 
green  way  is  both  soft  and  smooth  ;  wherefore  fear 


THE   TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     301 

not  that  I  shall  throw  thee  down  cr  drag  thee  along. 
And  to-morrow  thy  shame  shall  be  gone  and  we 
shall  see  what  is  to  betide. 

Lo,  friends,  this  is  the  last  word  he  spake  ere  he 
was  slain,  and  the  ending  of  my  tale ;  for  we  had 
gone  thus  but  a  little  way  ere  ye  brake  out  of  the 
wood  upon  us ;  and  then  befell  the  death  of  one 
friend,  and  the  doubt,  maybe,  of  the  others,  and  all 
the  grief  and  sorrow  that  I  shall  never  be  quit  of 
unless  ye  forgive  me  where  I  have  done  amiss,  and 
help  me  in  the  days  to  come.  And  she  spread  out 
her  hands  before  them,  and  bowed  her  head,  and 
the  tears  fell  from  her  eyes  on  to  the  floor. 

Viridis  wept  at  Birdalone's  weeping,  and  Aurea 
for  her  own  sorrow,  which  this  other  sorrow  stirred. 
Atra  wept  not,  but  her  face  was  sadder  than 
weeping. 

But  Arthur  spake  and  said  :  Herein  hath  been 
the  hand  of  Weird,  and  hath  been  heavy  on  us  ; 
but  no  blame  have  we  to  lay  on  our  sister  Bird- 
alone,  nor  hath  she  done  light-mindedly  by  us  ; 
though  maybe  she  erred  in  not  trusting  to  the  good- 
hap  of  the  Quest  to  bring  us  back  in  due  time: 
and  all  that  she  saith  do  we  trow  as  if  it  were  writ- 
ten in  the  Holy  Gospel.  They  all  yeasaid  this, 
and  called  on  her  to  come  amongst  them  ;  but  she 
thought  of  little  at  first  save  the  joy  of  hearing  the 
sweetness  of  those  words  as  Arthur  spake  them  ; 
wherefore  she  hung  back  a  little,  and  thought  shame 
of  it  that  she  might  not  give  more  heed  to  the  others 
of  them.  Then  came  Viridis  and  took  her  by  the 
hand  and  led  her  to  Sir  Hugh,  and  Birdalone  knelt 


302     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

down  before  him  and  took  his  hand  to  kiss  it,  but 
he  put  both  hands  about  her  face  and  kissed  her 
kindly  and  merrily  on  the  lips.  Then  she  knelt 
before  Aurea,  and  was  hapless  before  her ;  but 
Aurea  kissed  her,  and  bade  her  be  of  better  cheer, 
albeit  the  words  came  coldly  from  her  mouth. 
Next  she  came  to  Arthur,  and  knelt  before  him  and 
took  his  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  thanked  him 
kindly  for  his  kind  words,  looking  into  his  face 
meanwhile ;  and  she  saw  that  it  was  pale  and 
troubled  now,  and  she  longed  to  be  alone  with  him 
that  she  might  ask  him  wherefore. 

As  for  Atra,  she  arose  as  Birdalone  came  before 
her,  and  cast  her  arms  about  her  neck,  and  wept 
and  sobbed  upon  her  bosom,  and  then  went  hurry- 
ing from  out  the  solar  and  into  the  hall,  and  walked 
to  and  fro  there  a  while  until  the  passion  that  tore 
her  was  lulled  somewhat,  and  she  might  show  her 
face  to  them  calm  and  friendly  once  more.  And 
as  she  entered  Arthur  was  speaking,  and  he  said  : 

To  you,  ladies,  I  tell  what  we  of  the  castle  wot 
better  than  well,  that  our  dear  friend  hath  escaped 
so  heavy  a  fate  in  escaping  the  Red  Hold,  that  it 
were  unmeet  for  us  to  murmur  at  our  loss  in  our 
fellow  ;  for  a  warrior's  life,  which  is  ever  in  peril 
of  death,  is  nought  over  heavy  a  ransom  for  such 
a  friend,  and  so  dear  and  lovely,  from  such  a  long 
and  evil  death.  Whereas  ye  must  wot  that  the  said 
Hold  hath  this  long  while  been  a  very  treasure- 
house  of  woes  and  a  coffer  of  lamentations  ;  for 
merciless  was  the  tyrant  thereof,  and  merciless  all 
his  folk.   Now  another  time,  when  ye  are  stronger 


THE   TALE    OF    THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     303 

in  heart  than  now  ye  be,  I  may  tell  you  tales  there- 
of closer  and  more  nicely  of  those  who  did  his  will ; 
as  of  his  innermost  band  of  men-at-arms,  called  the 
Millers  ;  and  of  his  fellow-worker  in  wizardry  and 
venoms,  called  the  Apothecary ;  and  the  three  hags, 
called  the  Furies  ;  and  the  three  young  women, 
called  the  Graces  ;  and  his  hounds  that  love  man's 
flesh ;  and  the  like  tales,  as  evil  as  nightmares 
turned  into  deeds  of  the  day.  But  now  and  here 
will  I  say  this,  that  when  we  have  done  the  obse- 
quies of  our  dear  fellow,  it  were  good  that  we  follow 
up  the  battle  so  valiantly  begun  by  him.  I  mean 
that  the  Quest  of  our  ladies  being  now  accomplished, 
we  should  turn  what  is  left  of  the  fellowship  into 
a  war  against  the  Red  Hold  and  its  evil  things; 
and  that  so  soon  as  the  relics  of  Baudoin  are  laid 
in  earth,  we  gather  force  and  go  thither  in  arms  to 
live  or  die  in  the  quarrel,  and  so  sweeten  the  earth, 
as  did  the  men  of  ancient  days  when  they  slew  the 
dragons  and  the  giants,  and  the  children  of  hell,  and 
the  sons  of  Cain. 

His  cheek  flushed  as  he  spoke,  and  he  looked 
around  till  his  eyes  fell  on  Birdalone,  and  he  saw 
that  her  face  also  glowed  and  her  eyes  gleamed  ; 
but  Viridis,  her  heart  sank  so  that  she  paled,  and 
her  lips  trembled. 

But  Aurea  spake  and  said  :  I  thank  thee  for  thy 
word.  Black  Squire,  and  I  know  that  my  man  shall 
rejoice  in  Paradise  when  he  knoweth  of  it,  and  there- 
of shall  I  tell  him  to-morrow  when  the  mass  is  said 
for  him. 

And  Atra  said  :   Good  is  the  word,  and  we  look 


304     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

to  it  that  the  deed  shall  be  better  yet.  Thus  hath 
the  evil  arisen  that  shall  destroy  the  evil,  as  oft 
hath  been  when  the  valiant  have  been  grieved,  and 
the  joy  of  the  true-hearted  hath  been  stolen  from 
them  ;  then  the  hand  doth  the  doughty  deed  and 
the  heart  hath  ease,  and  solaced  is  sorrow. 

They  looked  on  her  and  wondered,  for  she  spake 
with  her  head  upraised  and  her  eyes  glittering,  as 
she  had  been  one  of  the  wise  women  of  yore  agone. 
And  Birdalone  feared  her,  though  she  loved  her. 

Lastly  spake  Hugh,  and  said :  Brother,  this  is 
well  thought  of  indeed,  and  I  marvel  that  I  did  not 
prevent  thee;  and  I  am  thine  to  live  and  die  with 
thee.  And  the  adventure  is  nought  unlikely ;  for 
if  we  have  lost  a  captain  they  have  lost  their  head 
devil,  and  their  head  little  devil;  moreover,  the 
good  men  of  Greenford  shall  join  them  to  us,  and 
that  shall  make  us  strong,  whereas  they  have  men 
enough,  and  those  stout  men-at-arms;  and  artifi- 
cers they  have  to  make  us  engines,  and  do  other 
wisdom;  and  therewithal  money  to  buy  or  to  wage 
what  they  will.  Wherefore,  to  my  mind,  we  were 
best  to  make  no  tarrying,  but  send  out  the  mes- 
sengers for  the  hosting  straightway. 

Straightway,  said  the  Black  Squire;  and  let  us 
go  now  and  find  Sir  Aymeris.  So  they  arose  both 
and  went  their  ways,  and  left  the  women  there 
alone,  and  were  gone  a  good  while. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  ATRA  AND  BIRD- 
ALONE  TALK  TOGETHER  WHILE 
THE  LORDS  SIT  AT  THE  MURDER- 
COUNCIL. 

MEANWHILE  of  their  absence,  Viridis  sat 
sad  and  silent  and  downcast,  though  she 
wept  not,  for  her  gladness,  which  erst  had 
been  so  great,  seemed  now  reft  from  her;  and  no 
merrier  was  Aurea,  as  might  have  been  looked  for. 
But  Atra  came  quietly  unto  Birdalone,  and  said 
softly :  I  have  a  word  for  thee  if  thou  wilt  come 
forth  with  me  into  the  hall.  Birdalone's  heart 
failed  her  somewhat,  but  she  suffered  Atra  to  take 
her  hand,  and  they  went  into  the  hall  together,  and 
Atra  brought  her  into  a  shot-window,  and  they  sat 
down  together  side  by  side  and  were  silent  awhile. 
Spake  Atra  then,  trembling  and  reddening:  Bird- 
alone,  knowest  thou  what  thought,  what  hope,  was 
in  my  heart  when  I  spake  so  proudly  and  rashly  e'en 
now?  Birdalone  kept  silence,  and  trembled  as  the 
other  did.  This  it  was,  said  Atra :  he  will  go  to  this 
battle  valiantly,  he  may  fall  there,  and  that  were  bet- 
ter; for  then  is  life  to  begin  anew:  and  what  is  there 
to  do  with  these  dregs  of  life  ?  Said  Birdalone, 
with  flushed  face:  If  he  die  he  shall  die  goodly,  and 
if  he  live  he  shall  live  goodly.  Yea,  yea,  said 
Atra;  forsooth  thou  art  a  happy  woman!  Dost 
thou  hate  me?  said  Birdalone.  Said  Atra:  Proud 
is  thy  word,  but  I  hate  thee  not.  Nay,  e'en  now, 
when  I  spake  thus  boastfully,  I  thought:  When 
he  hath  died  as  a  doughty  knight  should,  then, 

20 


3o6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

when  life  begins  again,  Birdalone  and  I  shall  be 
friends  and  sisters,  and  we  two  will  talk  together 
oft  and  call  him  to  mind,  and  the  kindness  of  him, 
and  how  he  loved  us.  Woe's  me!  that  was  when 
he  was  there  sitting  beside  me  and  I  could  see  him 
and  his  kindness;  and  then  it  was  as  if  I  could  give 
him  away;  but  now  he  is  gone  and  I  may  not  see 
him,  it  is  clear  to  me  that  I  have  no  part  or  lot 
in  him,  and  I  call  back  my  thought  and  my  word, 
and  now  it  is :  O  that  he  may  live !  O  thou  happy 
woman,  that  shall  be  glad  whether  he  liveth  or 
dieth  ! 

Said  Birdalone:  And  now  thou  hatest  me,  dost 
thou  not,  and  we  are  foes?  Atra  answered  not, 
nor  spake  for  a  while;  then  she  said:  Hard  and  bit- 
ter is  it,  and  I  know  not  what  to  turn  to.  I  have 
seen  once  and  again,  on  the  wall  of  the  Minorites' 
church  at  Greenford,  a  fair  picture  of  the  Blessed, 
and  they  walking  in  thp  meads  of  Paradise,  clad  in 
like  raiment,  men  and  women;  their  heads  flower- 
crowned,  their  feet  naked  in  the  harmless  blos- 
somed grass;  hand  in  hand  they  walk,  with  all  wrath 
passed  for  ever,  all  desire  changed  into  loving-kind- 
ness, all  the  anguish  of  forgiveness  forgotten.  And 
underneath  the  picture  is  it  writ: 

Bitter  winter,  burning  summer,  never  more  shall  waste  and  wear  ; 
Blossom  of  the  rose  undying  brings  undying  springtide  there. 

O  for  the  hope  of  it,  that  I  might  hope  it!  O  for 
the  days  to  be  and  the  assuaging  of  sorrow:  I  speak 
the  word,  and  the  hope  springeth ;  the  word  is 
spoken,  and  there  abideth  desire  barren  of  hope! 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S   ENDING     307 

And  she  bowed  down  her  head  and  wept  bitterly; 
and  Birdalone  called  to  mind  her  kindness  of  the 
past  and  wept  for  her,  she  also. 

After  a  while  Atra  lifted  up  her  head,  and  thus 
she  spake :  I  hate  thee  not,  Birdalone ;  nor  doth  one 
say  such  things  to  a  foe.  Yea,  furthermore,  I  will 
crave  somewhat  of  thee.  If  ever  there  come  a  time 
when  thou  mayst  do  something  for  me,  thou  wilt 
know  it  belike  without  my  telling  thee.  In  that 
day  and  in  that  hour  I  bid  thee  remember  how  we 
stood  together  erst  at  the  stair-foot  of  the  Wailing 
Tower  in  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought,  and  thou 
naked  and  fearful  and  quaking,  and  what  I  did  to 
thee  that  tide  to  comfort  thee  and  help  and  save 
thee.  And  then  when  thou  hast  called  it  to  mind, 
do  thou  for  me  what  thou  canst  do.  Wilt  thou 
promise  this?  Yea,  yea,  said  Birdalone;  and  with 
all  the  better  will,  that  oft  and  over  again  have  I 
called  it  to  mind.  Wherefore  I  behight  thee  to 
let  me  serve  thee  if  I  may  whenso  the  occasion 
Cometh,  even  if  it  be  to  my  own  pain  and  grief;  for 
this  I  know  thou  meanest. 

See  thou  to  this  then,  said  Atra  coldly  ;  and  thou 
shalt  be  the  better  for  it  in  the  long  run  belike  : 
for  thou  art  a  happy  woman. 

She  arose  as  she  spake,  and  said  :  Hist !  here 
come  the  lords  from  the  murder-council  ;  and  lo, 
now  that  he  cometh,  my  heart  groweth  evil  toward 
thee  again,  and  well-nigh  biddeth  me  wish  that  thou 
wert  naked  and  helpless  before  me  again.  Lo  my 
unhap  !  that  he  should  mark  my  face  that  it  shows 
as  if  I  were  fain  to  do  thee  a  mischief   And  nought 


3o8     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

of  that  would  I  do  ;  for  how  should  it  avail  me,  and 
thou  my  fellow  and  the  faithful  messenger  of  the 
Quest  ? 

Now  little  of  her  last  words  did  Birdalone  meet, 
as  into  the  hall  came  Hugh  and  Arthur ;  and  though 
she  strove  to  sober  her  mind  and  think  of  her  she- 
friend  and  her  unhappiness,  yet  she  could  not  choose 
but  to  be  full  of  joy  in  her  inmost  heart  now  she 
knew  without  doubt  that  she  was  so  well-beloved 
of  her  beloved  :  and  she  deemed  that  Atra  was  in 
the  right  indeed  to  call  her  a  happy  woman. 

So  now  they  all  went  into  the  solar  together,  and 
sat  them  down  with  the  two  others  ;  and  Hugh  did 
them  to  wit,  how  they  had  ordered  all  the  matter 
of  the  messengers  who  were  to  summon  the  knights 
and  chiefs  of  thereabouts,  and  the  aldermen  of 
Greenford,  to  meet  at  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  that 
they  might  set  afoot  the  hosting  to  go  against  the 
Red  Hold. 


CHAPTER    IX.      HUGH    TELLS    THE 
STORY   OF  THE   QUEST'S   ENDING. 

WHEN  this  was  said,  and  there  had  been 
silence  a  while,  Birdalone  took  up  the 
word,  and  spake  meekly  and  sweetly, 
saying  :  Dear  friends,  how  it  fared  with  you  on  the 
isle  from  the  time  of  my  leaving  you,  and  how  with 
you,  true  knights,  from  the  time  of  your  departure, 
I  both  were  fain  to  know  for  the  tale's  sake,  and  also 
I  would  take  the  telling  thereof  as  a  sign  of  your 
forgiveness  of  my  transgression  ;  so  I  would  crave 
the  same  of  you  but  if  it  weary  you  overmuch. 

All  they  yeasaid  her  kindly,  and  Hugh  spake 
and  said  :  By  your  leave,  fellows,  I  will  tell  in  few 
words  what  betid  us  on  our  way  to  the  Isle  of  In- 
crease Unsought,  and  then  shall  Viridis  take  up 
the  tale  from  the  time  that  Birdalone  left  the  said 
isle  in  the  witch's  ferry.  None  said  aught  against 
it,  and  Hugh  went  on  :  Short  is  my  tale  of  the 
journey  :  We  came  to  the  Isle  of  Nothing  on  the 
morrow's  morn  of  our  departure,  and  being  warned 
of  thee,  Birdalone,  we  abode  there  but  a  little  while 
to  rest  us  from  the  boat,  and  went  nowhither  from 
the  strand,  and  so  went  on  our  way  in  a  three 
hours'  space. 

Thence  again  we  took  the  water,  and  came  to 
the  Isle  of  Kings,  and  that  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
night :  we  beheld  the  dead  long  and  heedfully  when 
the  morning  came,  and  departed  again  before  noon, 
and  came  to  the  Isle  of  Queens  a  little  after  night- 
fall.    The  next  morning  we  deemed  we  needs  must 


3IO     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

go  see  the  images  of  those  ladies,  lest  aught  might 
have  befell  since  thou  wert  there  which  might  be 
of  import  to  the  Quest,  but  all  was  unchanged,  and 
we  came  away  while  the  day  was  yet  young. 

We  made  the  Isle  of  the  Young  and  the  Old 
about  sunset  that  day,  and  the  boy  and  the  girl 
came  down  to  the  strand  to  behold  us  and  wonder 
at  us,  and  we  sported  with  them  merrily  a  while  ; 
and  then  they  brought  us  to  the  house  of  the  old 
man,  who  received  us  courteously  and  gave  us  to 
eat  and  drink.  Forsooth,  when  the  night  was  some- 
what spent,  he  brought  out  strong  drink  to  us,  and 
took  it  somewhat  amiss  that  we  drank  not  over- 
much thereof,  as  forsooth  he  did,  and  so  fell  asleep. 
Before  he  was  drunk  we  asked  him  many  questions 
about  the  isle  and  its  customs,  but  he  knew  nought 
to  tell  us  of  them.  Of  thee  also  we  asked,  sister, 
but  he  had  no  memory  of  thee. 

On  the  morrow  he  fared  down  with  us  to  our 
ferry,  and  made  many  prayers  to  us  to  take  him 
along  with  us  ;  for  here,  said  he,  is  neither  lordship 
nor  fair  lady  ;  and  if  here  I  abide,  soon  shall  I  come 
to  mine  ending  day,  and  sore  I  yearn  for  joyance 
and  a  long  term  to  my  years.  Now  we  durst  not 
take  him  aboard  lest  we  should  fare  amiss  with  the 
wight  of  the  Sending  Boat ;  so  we  naysaid  him  cour- 
teously, thanked  him  for  his  guesting,  and  gave 
him  gifts,  to  wit,  a  finger  gold  ring  and  an  ouch  of 
gold,  so  he  turned  away  from  us  somewhat  down- 
cast as  we  deemed  ;  but  ere  we  had  given  the  word 
to  the  Sending  Boat  we  heard  him  singing  merrily 
in  a  high  cracked  voice  as  he  went  on  his  way. 


THE   TALE   OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     311 

Now  on  this  last  day  betid  somewhat  of  new 
tidings  ;  for  scarce  was  this  isle  out  of  sight  behind, 
ere  we  saw  a  boat  come  sailing  toward  us  from  the 
north-east,  and  it  came  on  swiftly  with  a  blue  ripple 
of  the  lake  behind  it.  Thereat  we  marvelled, 
and  yet  more  when  we  saw  that  its  sail  was  striped 
of  gold  and  green  and  black  ;  next  then  were  we 
betwixt  fear  and  joy  when,  as  it  drew  nigher,  we 
saw  three  women  in  the  said  boat,  clad  in  gold, 
green,  and  black  ;  and  it  came  so  nigh  unto  us  at 
last,  that  we  could  see  their  faces  that  they  were 
verily  those  of  our  lovelings  ;  and  each  reached  out 
her  arms  to  us  and  called  on  us  for  help,  each  by 
our  name  :  and  there  we  were,  oarless,  sailless,  at 
the  mercy  of  our  unkenned  ferry.  Then  would 
Baudoin  and  I  have  leapt  overboard  to  swim  to  our 
loves  at  all  adventure  ;  but  Sir  Arthur  here  stayed 
us,  and  bade  us  think  of  it,  that  we  were  now  near- 
ing  the  Witch-land,  and  if  we  might  not  look  to  be 
beset  with  guiles  and  gins  to  keep  us  from  winning 
to  our  journey's  end  ;  wherefore  we  forbore,  though 
in  all  wretchedness,  and  the  gay  boat  ran  down  the 
wind  away  from  us,  and  the  breeze  and  the  ripple 
passed  away  with  it,  and  the  lake  lay  under  the  hot 
sun  as  smooth  as  glass  ;  and  on  we  went,  weary- 
hearted. 

Came  again  another  sail  out  of  the  north-east, 
when  the  sun  was  getting  low,  and  speedily  it  drew 
nigh,  but  this  time  it  was  no  small  boat  or  barge, 
but  a  tall  ship  with  great  sails,  and  goodly-towered 
she  was  and  shield-hung,  and  the  basnets  gleamed 
and  the  spears  glittered  from  her  castle-tops  and 


312     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

bulwarks,  and  the  sound  of  her  horns  came  down 
the  wind  as  she  neared  us.  We  two  handled  our 
weapons  and  did  on  our  basnets,  but  Arthur  there, 
he  sat  still,  and  said  :  Not  over-wise  is  the  witch, 
that  she  lets  loose  on  us  two  sendings  in  one  day 
so  like  unto  each  other.  Hah,  said  Baudoin,  be 
we  wary  though  ;  they  are  going  to  shoot.  And 
sure  enough  we  saw  a  line  of  bowmen  in  all  the 
castles  and  even  along,  and  a  horn  blew,  and  then 
forth  flew  the  shafts,  but  whither  we  knew  not,  for 
none  came  anywhere  anigh  us  ;  and  Arthur  laughed 
and  said  :  A  fair  shot  into  the  clouds  ;  but,  by 
our  Lady  !  if  none  shot  better  in  our  country,  I 
would  bear  no  armour  for  their  shafts.  But  we 
two  were  confused  and  knew  not  what  to  think. 

The  great  ship  flew  past  us  on  the  wind  as  the 
barge  had  done,  but  when  she  was  about  half  a 
mile  aloof  we  saw  her  canvass  fall  to  shivering  and 
her  yards  swaying  round,  and  Arthur  cried  out : 
St.  Nicholas  !  the  play  beginneth  again  !  she  is 
coming  about  ! 

Even  so  it  was,  and  presently  she  was  bearing  on 
us,  and  was  ere  long  so  close  aboard  that  we  could 
see  her  every  spar  and  rope,  and  her  folk  all  gath- 
ered to  the  windward,  knights,  sergeants,  archers, 
and  mariners,  to  gaze  at  us  and  mock  us  ;  and  huge 
and  devilish  laughter  arose  from  amongst  them  as 
she  ploughed  the  water  so  close  beside  us,  that  one 
might  well-nigh  have  cast  a  morsel  of  bread  aboard 
her  ;  for  clear  it  was  presently  that  she  had  no  mind 
to  run  us  down. 

Spake  Arthur  then:  There  will  be  a  fresh  play 


THE    TALE    OF    THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     313 

presently,  my  mates,  but  ye  sit  fast,  for  meseemeth 
this  show  is  no  more  perilous  than  the  other,  though 
it  be  bigger. 

Scarce  were  the  words  out  of  his  mouth,  ere  there 
was  a  stir  amongst  the  men  gathered  in  the  waist, 
and  lo,  amidst  a  knot  of  big  and  fierce  mariners, 
three  women  standing,  pale,  with  flying  hair,  and 
their  hands  bound  behind  them,  and  one  was  clad 
in  gold  and  another  in  green  and  the  third  in 
black  ;  and  their  faces  were  as  the  faces  of  Aurea 
and  Viridis  and  Atra. 

Then  there  came  forth  from  that  ship  a  huge 
cruel  roar  blent  with  mocking  laughter  that  shamed 
our  very  hearts,  and  those  evil  things  in  the  form 
of  mariners  took  hold  of  each  one  of  the  ladies  and 
cast  them  overboard  into  the  gulf  of  the  waters, 
first  Aurea,  next  Viridis,  and  then  Atra  ;  and  we 
two  stood  up  with  our  useless  swords  brandished 
and  would  have  leapt  over  into  the  deep,  but  that 
Arthur  arose  also  and  took  hold  of  an  arm  of  each 
of  us  and  stayed  us,  and  said  :  Nay,  then,  if  ye 
go,  take  me  with  you,  and  let  all  the  Quest  sink 
down  into  the  deep,  and  let  our  lovelings  pine  in 
captivity,  and  Birdalone  lose  all  her  friends  in  one 
swoop,  and  we  be  known  hereafter  as  the  fools  of 
lovers,  the  unstable. 

So  we  sat  us  down,  but  huge  shrieking  laughter 
rose  up  unblended  from  the  keel  of  the  evil  thing, 
and  then  they  let  her  go  down  the  wind,  and  she 
went  her  way  with  flashing  of  arms,  and  streaming 
of  banners  and  pennons,  and  blowing  of  horns,  and 
the  sun  was  setting  over  the  wide  water. 


314     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

But  Arthur  spake  :  Cheer  up,  brethren  !  see  ye 
not  how  this  proud  witch  is  also  but  an  eyeless  fool 
to  send  us  such  a  show,  and  the  second  time  in  one 
day  to  show  us  the  images  of  our  dearlings,  who 
hours  ago  flitted  past  us  in  the  stripe-sailed  boat  ? 
Where,  then,  did  they  of  the  ship  meet  with  them  ? 
Nay,  lords,  let  not  the  anguish  of  love  steal  all  your 
wits. 

We  saw  we  had  been  fools  to  be  so  overcast  by 
guile,  and  yet  were  we  exceeding  ill  at  ease,  and 
over-long  the  time  seemed  unto  us  until  we  should 
be  come  to  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought,  and  find 
our  lovelings  there. 

Now  was  the  night  come,  and  we  fell  asleep,  but 
belike  were  not  often  all  asleep  at  once  ;  and  at  last 
it  was,  when  we  felt  the  dawn  drawing  near,  though, 
the  moon  being  down,  it  was  the  darkest  of  the 
summer  night,  that  we  were  all  three  awake,  when 
all  of  a  sudden  we  heard  just  astern  the  rushing 
of  the  water,  as  though  some  keel  were  cleaving  it, 
and  dimly  in  the  dark  we  saw  a  sail  as  of  a  boat 
overhauling  us.  Close  at  hand  there  rang  out  a 
lamentable  cry :  O,  are  ye  there,  fellows  of  the 
Quest  ?  O,  help  me,  friends  !  save  me  and  de- 
liver me,  who  am  snatched  away  to  be  cast  into  the 
hands  of  my  mistress  that  was.  Help  me,  Baudoin, 
Hugh,  Arthur  !   Help  !  help  ! 

Then  all  we  knew  the  voice  of  Birdalone,  and 
Arthur  leapt  up,  and  would  have  been  overboard 
in  a  trice  had  not  we  two  held  him,  and  he  fought 
and  cursed  us  well-favouredly,  there  is  no  nay 
thereto  ;  and  meanwhile  the  wailing  voice  of  thee. 


THE    TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     315 

my  sister,  died  out  in  the  distance,  and  the  east  grew 
grey,  and  dawn  was  come. 

Then  spake  Baudoin  :  Arthur,  my  brother,  dost 
thou  not  mark  that  this  also  was  of  the  same  sort 
of  show  as  those  two  others,  and  thou  who  wert 
so  wise  before  ?  It  is  but  beguilings  to  bring  the 
Quest  to  nought ;  wherefore  call  to  mind  thy  man- 
hood and  thy  much  wisdom  ! 

And  we  admonished  him  and  rebuked  him  till 
he  became  quiet  and  wise  again,  but  was  sad  and 
downcast  and  silent.  But  the  Sending  Boat  sped 
on  through  the  dawning,  and  when  it  was  light  we 
saw  that  we  had  the  Isle  of  Increase  close  aboard, 
and  we  ran  ashore  there  just  as  the  sun  was  rising. 
Fain  were  we  then  to  get  out  of  the  boat  and  feel 
earth  under  our  feet.  We  took  all  our  hards  out 
of  the  boat,  and  hid  away  under  the  roots  of  an  old 
thorn  a  little  mail  wherein  was  your  raiment,  my 
ladies,  which  ye  had  lent  to  Birdalone  ;  then  we  did 
on  our  armour,  and  advised  us  of  whereabout  on 
the  isle  we  were,  and  we  saw  the  orchards  and 
gardens  before  us,  and  the  great  fair  house  above 
all,  even  as  ye  told  us  of  them,  Birdalone. 

Next,  then,  without  more  ado,  we  went  our  ways 
up  through  the  orchard  and  the  gardens,  and  when 
we  were  well-nigh  at  the  end  of  them,  and  in  face 
of  those  many  steps  ye  spake  of,  we  saw  at  the  foot 
of  them  a  tall  woman  clad  in  red  scarlet,  standing 
as  if  she  abode  our  coming.  When  we  drew  nigh 
we  saw  that  she  was  strong-looking,  well-knit, 
white-skinned,  yellow-haired,  and  blue-eyed,  and 
might  have  been  called  a  fair  woman,  as  to  her 


3l6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

shaping,  save  that  her  face  was  heavy,  yet  hard- 
looking,  with  thin  Hps  and  somewhat  flagging 
cheeks,  a  face  stupid,  but  proud  and  cruel. 

She  hailed  us  as  we  came  up,  and  said :  Men- 
at-arms,  ye  be  welcome  to  our  house,  and  I  bid  you 
to  eat  and  drink  and  abide  here. 

Then  we  louted  before  her,  and  bade  her  Hail ; 
and  Baudoin  said  :  Lady,  thy  bidding  will  we  take  ; 
yet  have  we  an  errand  to  declare  ere  we  break  bread 
with  thee,  lest  when  it  is  told  we  be  not  so  welcome 
as  ye  tell  us  now.  What  is  it  ?  said  she.  Said 
Baudoin :  This  man  here  is  called  the  Green  Knight, 
and  this  the  Black  Squire,  and  I  am  the  Golden 
Knight ;  and  now  will  we  ask  thee  if  this  isle  be 
called  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought?  Even  so 
have  I  called  it,  quoth  she,  wherefore  I  deem  none 
other  will  dare  call  it  otherwise.  It  is  well,  quoth 
Baudoin  ;  but  we  have  heard  say  that  hereto  had 
strayed  three  dear  friends  of  ours,  three  maidens, 
who  hight  Viridis,  the  friend  of  the  Green  Knight, 
and  Atra,who  is  the  Black  Squire's,  and  Aurea,who 
is  mine  own  friend,  so  we  have  come  to  take  them 
home  with  us,  since  they  have  been  so  long  away 
from  their  land  and  their  loves.  Now  if  they  be 
thy  friends  thou  wilt  perchance  let  them  go  for 
love's  sake  and  the  eking  of  friendship;  but  if  they 
be  thy  captives,  then  are  we  well  willing  to  pay  thee 
ransom,  not  according  to  their  worth,  for  no  treas- 
ure heaped  up  might  come  nigh  it,  but  according 
to  thy  desire,  lady. 

Laughed  the  proud  lady  scornfully  and  said  : 
Big  are  thy  words,   Sir  Knight :  if  I   had  these 


THE    TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     317 

maidens  in  my  keeping  I  would  give  them  unto 
you  for  nothing,  and  deem  that  I  had  the  best  of 
the  bargain.  But  here  are  they  not.  True  it  is 
that  I  had  here  three  thralls  who  were  hight  as  thou 
hast  said ;  but  a  while  ago,  not  many  days,  they 
transgressed  against  me  till  I  chastised  them ;  and 
then  was  I  weary  of  them  and  would  be  quit  of 
them  ;  for  I  need  no  servants  here,  whereas  I  my- 
self am  enough  for  myself  Wherefore  I  sent  them 
away  across  the  water  to  my  sister,  who  dwells  in 
a  fair  place  hight  the  House  under  the  Wood  ;  for 
she  needeth  servants,  because  the  earth  there  yield- 
eth  nought  save  to  the  tiller  and  the  herdsman  and 
the  hunter,  while  here  all  cometh  unsought.  With 
her  may  ye  deal,  for  what  I  know,  and  buy  the 
maidens  whom  ye  prize  so  high  ;  though  belike  ye 
may  have  to  give  her  other  servants  in  their  place. 
For,  indeed,  a  while  ago  her  thrall  fled  from  her 
and  left  her  half  undone,  and  it  is  said  that  she  came 
hither  in  her  shamelessness  :  but  I  know  not ;  if 
she  did,  she  slipped  through  my  fingers,  or  else  I 
would  have  made  her  rue  her  impudence.  Now 
meseemeth.  Sir  Knights,  here  is  enough  of  so  small 
and  foolish  a  matter  ;  and  again  I  pray  you  to  enter 
my  poor  house,  and  take  meat  and  drink  along 
with  me,  for  ye  be  none  the  less  welcome  because 
of  your  errand,  though  it  be  a  foolish  one. 

Now  would  Sir  Baudoin  have  answered  wrath- 
fully,  but  Arthur  plucked  at  his  skirt,  and  he 
yeasaid  the  lady's  bidding,  though  somewhat  un- 
graciously ;  but  that  she  heeded  nought ;  she  took 
Sir  Baudoin  by  the  hand  and  led  him  up  the  stately 


3l8     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

perron,  and  thence  came  we  into  a  pillared  hall,  as 
fair  as  might  be.  And  there  on  the  dais  was  a  table 
dight  with  dainty  meats  and  drinks,  and  the  lady- 
bade  us  thereto,  and  we  sat  to  it. 

Thereat  was  the  lady  buxom  and  merry  :  Bau- 
doin  scowled  across  the  board ;  I  was  wary  and 
silent ;  but  Arthur  was  as  blithe  with  the  lady  as 
she  with  him  ;  nor  did  I  altogether  marvel  thereat, 
since  I  knew  him  wise  of  wit. 

But  when  we  were  done  with  the  meal,  the  lady 
stood  up  and  said  :  Now,  Sir  Knights,  I  will  give 
you  leave  ;  but  this  house  is  as  your  own  to  roam 
through  all  its  chambers  and  pleasure  you  with  its 
wonders  and  goodliness ;  and  when  ye  are  weary 
of  the  house,  then  is  the  orchard  and  the  garden 
free  to  you,  and  all  the  isle  wheresoever  ye  will 
go.  And  here  in  this  hall  is  meat  and  drink 
for  you  whenso  ye  will ;  but  if  ye  would  see  me 
again  to-day,  then  shall  ye  meet  me  where  ye  first 
happened  on  me  e'en  now,  at  the  foot  of  the  great 
perron. 

Then  she  laid  her  hand  on  Arthur's  shoulder, 
and  said  :  Thy  big  friend  may  search  out  every 
nook  in  this  house,  and  every  bush  in  the  whole 
island,  and  if  he  find  there  the  maidens  he  spake 
of,  one  or  all  of  them,  then  are  they  a  gift  from  me 
unto  him. 

Therewith  she  turned,  and  went  out  of  the  hall 
by  a  door  in  the  side  thereof;  and  now  already 
meseemed  that  though  the  woman  was  hateful  and 
thick-hearted  and  cruel,  yet  she  was  become  fairer, 
or  seemed  so,  than  when  we  first  came  on   her ; 


THE   TALE   OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     319 

and  for  my  part  I  pondered  on  what  it  might  grow 
to,  and  fear  of  her  came  into  my  soul. 

Now  spake  Baudoin  :  Fellows,  let  us  get  out 
into  the  garden  at  least ;  for  this  place  is  evil,  and 
meseems  it  smells  and  tastes  of  tears  and  blood, 
and  that  evil  wights  that  hate  the  life  of  men  are 
lurking  in  the  nooks  thereof  And  lo,  our  very 
she-friend  that  was  so  kind  and  simple  and  dainty 
with  us,  there  is,  as  it  were,  the  image  of  the  dear 
maiden  standing  trembling  and  naked  before  the 
stupid  malice  of  this  lump  of  flesh.  So  spake  he, 
Birdalone. 

But  I  said  to  Arthur  in  a  soft  voice  :  And  when 
shall  we  slay  her  ?  Said  he  :  Not  until  we  have 
gotten  from  her  all  that  may  be  gotten ;  and  that 
is  the  living  bodies  of  our  friends.  But  come  we 
forth. 

So  did  we,  and  came  down  to  the  orchard  and 
did  off  our  helms,  and  lay  down  under  a  big  apple- 
tree  which  was  clear  of  cover  all  round  about,  and 
so  fell  to  our  redes ;  and  I  asked  Arthur  what  he 
deemed  of  the  story  of  our  loves  having  been  car- 
ried to  the  House  under  the  Wood,  and  if  it  might 
not  be  tried  seeking  thither;  but  he  laughed  and 
said  :  Never  would  she  have  told  us  thereof  had 
it  been  sooth  :  doubtless  our  friends  are  here  on 
this  isle,  but,  as  I  deem,  not  in  the  house,  else  had 
not  the  witch  left  all  the  house  free  for  us  to  search 
into.  Yea,  said  I,  but  how  if  they  be  in  her  prison  ? 
Said  he  :  It  is  not  hard  to  find  out  which  is  the 
prison  of  so  dainty  a  house  as  is  yonder;  and  when 
we  had  found  it,  soon  should  we  have  hit  upon  a 


320     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

way  to  break  it,  since  we  be  three,  and  stout  fel- 
lows enough.  Nay,  I  deem  that  the  lovelings  be 
stowed  away  in  some  corner  of  the  isle  without  the 
house,  and  that  mayhappen  we  shall  find  them 
there  ;  and  yet  I  trow  not  before  we  have  made 
guile  meet  guile,  and  overcome  the  sorceress.  But 
come  now,  let  us  be  doing,  and  begin  to  quarter 
this  little  land  as  the  kestrel  doth  the  water- 
meadow  ;  and  leave  we  our  armour,  lest  we  weary 
us,  for  we  shall  have  no  need  for  hard  strokes. 

We  hung  up  there  on  the  tree  helm  and  shield 
and  hauberk,  and  all  our  defences,  and  went  our 
ways  quartering  the  isle  ;  and  the  work  was  toil- 
some, but  we  rested  not  till  the  time  was  come  to 
keep  tryst  with  the  lady  ;  and  all  that  while  we 
found  no  sign  of  the  darling  ones  :  and  the  isle 
was  everywhere  a  meadow  as  fair  as  a  garden,  with 
little  copses  of  sweet-growing  trees  here  and  there, 
and  goodly  brooks  of  water,  but  no  tillage  any- 
where :  wild  things,  as  hart  and  buck  and  roe,  we 
came  upon,  and  smaller  deer  withal,  but  all  un- 
hurtful  to  man ;  but  of  herding  was  no  token. 

Came  we  then  back  to  that  lordly  perron,  and 
there,  at  the  foot  thereof,  stood  the  witch-wife,  and 
received  us  joyously  ;  clad  was  she  all  gloriously 
in  red  scarlet  broidered  and  begemmed  ;  her  arms 
bare  and  her  feet  sandalled,  and  her  yellow  hair 
hanging  down  from  under  its  garland;  and  certainly 
it  was  so  that  she  had  grown  fairer,  and  was  sleek 
and  white  and  well-shapen,  and  well-haired;  yet  by 
all  that,  the  visage  of  her  was  little  bettered,  and 
unto  me  she  was  loathsome. 


THE   TALE   OF   THE    QUEST'S   ENDING     321 

Now  the  feast  went  much  as  the  earlier  meal  had 
done  ;  and  Baudoin  was  surly  and  Arthur  blithe 
and  buxom  ;  and  nought  befell  to  tell  of,  save  that 
dishes  and  meats,  and  flasks  and  cups,  and  all 
things  came  upon  the  board  as  if  they  were  borne 
thereon  by  folk  unseen  ;  and  thereat  we  wondered 
not  much,  considering  in  what  wonder-house  we 
were.  But  the  lady-witch  looked  on  us  and  smiled, 
and  said  :  Knights,  ye  marvel  at  the  manner  of  our 
service,  but  call  to  mind  that  we  told  you  this 
morning  that  we  were  enough  for  Ourselves,  and 
we  have  so  dight  our  days  here  that  v/hoso  is  our 
friend  on  this  Isle  of  Increase  shall  lack  nothing. 
Fear  not,  therefore,  to  see  aught  ugly  in  our  ser- 
vants as  now  unseen,  if  their  shapes  were  made 
manifest  unto  you. 

All  things  were  we  heedful  to  note  at  this  ban- 
quet ;  but  when  it  was  over,  then  came  music  into 
the  hall  from  folk  unseen,  but  not  as  if  the  musi- 
cians were  a  many,  only  belike  some  three  or  four. 
And  thereat  the  lady  spake,  saying:  Knights,  ye 
may  deem  our  minstrels  but  few,  but  such  is  our 
mind  that  we  love  not  our  music  overloud,  and  for 
the  most  part  only  three  sing  or  play  unto  us  at 
one  time. 

Thereafter  the  lady  brought  us  to  fair  chambers, 
and  we  slept  there  in  all  ease,  and  we  arose  on  the 
morrow  and  found  the  lady  still  blithe  with  us  ; 
yet  I  noted  this,  that  she  seemed  to  deal  with  Ar- 
thur as  if  she  saw  him  now  for  the  first  time,  and 
much  he  seemed  to  be  to  her  liking. 

Again  we  fared  forth,  and  were  no  less  diligent 

21 


322     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

in  searching  the  isle  than  erst,  and  found  nought; 
and  all  went  that  day  as  before. 

On  the  morrow  (that  is,  the  third  day)  the  witch 
seemed  to  have  somewhat  more  memory  of  Arthur 
than  erst,  and  even  yet  more  Hking  of  him,  so  that 
she  reached  out  her  hand  for  him  to  kiss,  which 
needs  must  he  do,  despite  his  loathing  of  her. 

When  we  had  lain  under  the  apple-tree  a  little 
while,  Baudoin  spake  and  said  :  Yesterday  and  the 
day  before  we  searched  the  open  land  and  found 
nought ;  now  to-day  let  us  search  the  house,  and 
if  we  find  nought,  then  at  least  it  shall  lie  behind 
us.  We  yeasaid  it,  and  presently  went  back,  and 
from  chamber  to  chamber,  and  all  was  fair  and 
goodly  as  might  be,  and  we  marvelled  what  would 
betide  to  it  when  the  witch  was  undone  and  her 
sorcery  come  to  an  end. 

To  the  Wailing  Tower  we  came,  and  up  the 
stairs,  and  found  the  door  open  of  the  prison-cham- 
ber, and  all  there  as  thou  hast  told  us,  Birdalone; 
only  we  opened  the  great  coffer,  whence  thou 
didst  refrain  thee,  and  found  it  full  of  hideous  gear 
truly,  as  fetters  and  chains,  and  whips  and  rods, 
and  evil  tools  of  the  tormentors,  and  cursed  it  all 
and  came  away ;  and  Arthur  said  :  Lo  you,  this 
stupid  one  !  How  eager  is  she  to  bid  us  what  to 
do,  and  to  tell  us  that  our  ladies  are  not  in  this  evil 
house,  since  she  leaveth  all  open  to  us.  Yet  we 
went  about  the  house  without,  and  counted  the 
windows  heedfully  to  see  that  we  had  missed  no 
chamber,  and  found  nought  amiss  ;  and  then  we 
went  in  again  and  sought  as  low  down  as  we  might, 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     323 

to  see  if  perchance  some  dungeon  there  were  un- 
derground, but  found  nought  save  a  very  goodly- 
undercroft  below  the  great  hall,  which  was  little  less 
fair  than  that  which  was  above  it.  So  came  the 
evening  and  the  banquet,  and  the  end  of  that  day  ; 
but  the  witch-wife  led  Arthur  by  the  hand  to  the 
board,  and  afterwards  to  the  chamber  ere  we  slept. 

On  the  fourth  day  and  the  fifth  it  was  no  other- 
wise than  erst ;  and  when  I  fared  to  bed  I  felt  con- 
fused in  my  head  and  sick  of  heart. 

The  night  of  the  next  day  (the  sixth),  as  we  went 
to  our  chambers,  and  the  witch-wife  and  Arthur 
hand-in-hand,  she  stayed  him  a  while,  and  spake 
eagerly  to  him  in  a  soft  voice;  and  as  he  came  up 
to  me  afterwards  he  said  :  To-night  I  have  escaped 
it,  but  there  will  not  be  escape  for  long.  From 
what.''  said  I.  He  said  :  From  bedding  her;  for 
now  it  has  come  to  this,  that  presently  we  must 
slay  her  at  once  and  have  no  knowledge  of  our 
sweetlings,  or  I  must  do  her  will. 

In  such  wise  passed  four  more  days,  and  it  was 
the  twelfth  morning  of  our  sojourn  there,  and  we 
went  forth  on  our  search  of  every  mead  and  every 
covert  of  the  isle,  and  all  day  we  found  nought  to 
our  purpose  ;  but  as  it  grew  toward  sunset,  and 
there  grew  great  clouds  in  the  eastern  ort,  piled  up 
and  copper-coloured,  we  came  over  a  bent  on  to  a 
little  green  dale  watered  by  a  clear  brook,  and  as 
we  looked  down  into  it  we  saw  something  shine 
amongst  its  trees ;  so  we  hastened  toward  that 
gleam,  and  lo,  amidst  the  dale,  with  the  brook 
running  through  it,  a  strange  garth  we  saw.      For 


324     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

there  was  a  pavilion  done  of  timber  and  board,  and 
gaily  painted  and  gilded,  and  out  from  that  house 
was,  as  it  were,  a  great  cage  of  thin  gilded  bars, 
both  walls  and  roof,  just  so  wide  apart  as  no  one 
full-grown,  carl  or  quean,  could  thrust  through. 

Thitherward  then  ran  we,  shouting,  for  we  saw 
at  once  that  in  the  said  cage  were  three  women 
whose  aspect  was  that  of  our  sweetlings,  and  pres- 
ently we  were  standing  by  the  said  herse,  reaching 
our  hands  out  to  them  to  come  to  us  and  tell  us 
their  tale,  and  that  we  would  deliver  them.  But 
they  stood  together  in  the  midst  of  the  said  cage, 
and  though  they  gazed  piteously  on  us  thence, 
and  reached  out  their  hands  to  us,  they  neither 
spake  nor  came  to  the  herse  to  us ;  so  we  deemed 
that  they  were  bewitched,  and  our  joy  was  dashed. 

Then  we  went  all  about  the  cage  and  the  pavil- 
ion to  find  ingate,  and  found  it  not ;  and  then  the 
three  of  us  together  strove  with  the  bars  of  the 
herse,  and  shook  and  swayed  them,  but  it  was  all 
to  no  purpose. 

Moreover,  while  we  were  at  this  work  the  sun 
seemed  to  go  out,  and  there  came  a  heavy  black 
mist  rolling  into  the  dale,  and  wrapped  us  about 
so  that  we  saw  not  each  other's  faces,  and  the  bars 
of  the  herse  were  gone  from  our  hands  as  we  stood 
there.  Then  came  rain  and  thunder  and  lightning 
on  to  the  black  night,  and  by  the  glare  of  the  light- 
ning we  could  see  the  leaves  and  grass  of  the  dale, 
but  neither  herse  nor  house  nor  woman.  So  we 
abode  there  in  the  dark  night,  and  the  storm  all 
bewildered  us,  till  the  rain   and  clouds  drew  off 


THE    TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     325 

and  it  was  calm  fair  starlight  again,  but  clean  gone 
was  the  golden  cage  and  they  that  stood  therein  ; 
and  we  turned  sadly,  and  went  our  ways  toward 
the  witch-house. 

On  the  way  said  Arthur :  Brethren,  this  me- 
seemeth  is  but  a-going  on  with  the  shows  which 
were  played  us  on  the  water  as  we  came  hither ; 
but  whether  she  doth  this  but  for  to  mock  and 
torment  us,  or  that  she  would  beguile  us  into 
deeming  that  our  friends  are  verily  here,  I  wot 
not;  but  to-morrow,  meseemeth,  I  shall  can  to  tell 
you. 

Now  came  we  to  the  perron  of  the  house,  and 
there  stood  the  witch-wife  under  the  stars  to  meet 
us.  And  when  she  saw  us,  she  took  hold  of  Arthur 
by  the  hand  and  the  arm  to  caress  him,  and  found 
that  he  and  we  were  drenched  with  the  rain  and  the 
storm,  as  might  well  be  deemed ;  then  she  bade  us 
up  to  our  chambers  to  do  on  raiment  which  she  had 
dight  for  us,  and  we  went  thither,  and  found  our  gar- 
ments rich  and  dainty  indeed;  but  when  we  came 
down  into  the  hall  where  the  witch  abode  us,  we 
saw  that  Arthur's  raiment  was  far  the  richest  and 
daintiest.  But  the  witch  ran  to  him  and  cast  her 
arms  about  him,  and  clipped  and  kissed  him  before 
the  others,  and  he  suffered  it.  So  sped  the  feast 
again. 

But  when  they  went  to  bed,  the  said  witch  took 
Arthur's  hand  and  spake  a  word  unto  him,  and 
led  him  away,  and  he  went  with  her  as  one  nought 
loth  ;  but  we  twain  were  afraid  lest  she  should 
destroy  him  when  she  had  had  her  will  of  him. 


326    THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Wherefore  we  waked   through  the  more  part  of 
the  night  with  our  swords  ready  to  hand. 

But  when  we  were  clad  in  the  morn  he  came 
unto  us,  he  also  clad,  and  was  downcast  and  shame- 
faced indeed,  but  safe  and  sound ;  and  he  said : 
Speak  no  word  about  our  matter  till  we  be  out  in 
the  open  air,  for  I  fear  all  things  about  us. 

So  when  we  had  gone  forth  and  were  under  the 
apple-tree  once  more,  spake  Arthur  :  Now,  lords, 
am  I  shamed  for  ever,  for  I  have  become  the  leman 
of  this  evil  creature ;  but  I  pray  ye  not  to  mock 
me;  and  that  the  more  as  the  same  lot  may  happen 
on  you  both,  or  either  ;  for  I  can  see  for  sure  that 
the  wretch  will  weary  of  me  and  desire  one  of  you 
two.  Let  it  pass.  Somewhat  have  I  found  out 
from  her,  but  not  much;  first,  that  she  has  for- 
gotten her  first  lie,  to  wit,  how  she  sent  our  ladies 
to  the  sister-witch ;  for  I  told  her  of  the  golden 
cage,  and  how  we  had  missed  it  in  the  storm  ;  and 
she  said :  Though  I  deem  it  a  folly  that  ye  should 
seek  these  thralls,  yet  would  I  help  you  if  1  might, 
since  ye  are  now  become  my  dear  friends.  Though, 
forsooth,  when  ye  meet  them  I  deem  that  ye  will 
find  them  sore  changed  to  you.  For,  as  I  told 
you,  they  fled  away  from  me,  after  I  had  chastised 
them  for  a  treason,  into  the  hidden  places  of  the 
isle,  whereas  they  had  no  keel  to^ail  away  hence. 
And  I  cared  not  to  follow  them,  as  I  myself  am 
queen  and  lady  of  all  things  here,  and  am  enough 
for  myself,  save  when  love  constraineth  me,  dear 
lord.  Now,  my  rede  is  that  ye  seek  the  golden 
cage  again   and   yet  again,  because   I   deem  that 


THE    TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     327 

these  thralls  have  somehow  learned  some  wisdom, 
and  they  have  enchanted  the  said  cage  for  a  de- 
fence against  me,  from  whom  they  might  not  hide 
as  they  did  from  you  ;  for  of  me  have  they  stolen 
their  wizardry,  and  I  am  their  mistress  therein. 

This,  therefore,  is  the  new  lie  of  her,  and  my 
rede  is  that  we  heed  it  nought.  For  my  mind  is 
that  she  it  is  that  hath  made  the  appearance  of  the 
cage  and  the  women  therein,  and  that  she  hath  our 
poor  friends  somewhere  underneath  her  hand. 

Now  this  we  deemed  most  like;  yet  whereas  we 
had  nought  to  do  with  the  time,  which,  now  that 
we  had  searched  the  isle  throughly,  hung  heavy  on 
hand,  we  deemed  it  good  to  go  to  the  dale  of  the 
golden  cage  again,  though  we  looked  not  to  find 
the  cage  there  any  more.  But  this  betid,  that  we 
found  the  little  dale  easily  enough,  and  there  stood 
the  cage  as  we  had  seen  it  yesterday,  but  nought 
was  there  within  its  bright  bars  save  the  grass  and 
the  flowers,  and  the  water  of  the  brook  a-running. 

We  loitered  about  that  place  a  while,  and  went 
back  to  the  house  in  due  time  ;  and  to  shorten  the 
tale,  I  shall  tell  that  for  many  days  it  betid  that 
we  went  every  day  to  seek  the  golden  cage,  but 
after  the  first  three  days  we  saw  it  no  more. 

Now  began  sadness  and  weariness  to  overcome 
us  as  the  days  and  weeks  wore,  and  belike  the  witch- 
wife  noted  it  that  we  were  worse  company  than 
heretofore. 

And  now  on  a  day  Arthur  bade  us  note  that 
the  said  witch  was  growing  weary  of  him,  and  he 
bade  me  look  to  it ;  for,  said  he,  she  is  turning  her 


3^8     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

face  toward  thee,  brother.  My  heart  burned  with 
rage  at  that  word  ;  I  said  nought,  but  made  up  my 
mind  that  I  would  try  to  bring  the  matter  to  an 
end. 

That  same  night  befell  what  Arthur  had  threat- 
ened ;  for  the  feast  being  done  in  the  evening,  the 
witch  drew  me  aside  while  the  music  was  a-playing, 
and  caressed  my  hand  and  my  shoulder,  and  said  : 
I  am  yet  wondering  at  you  Champions,  that  ye 
must  needs  follow  after  those  three  wretched  thralls, 
whom  never  will  ye  find,  for  they  need  ye  not,  but 
will  flee  from  you  if  ye  have  sight  of  them,  as  they 
did  that  other  day ;  and  therein  they  are  scarce  in 
the  wrong,  whereas  they  may  well  think  that  if  ye 
find  them  they  should  fall  into  my  hands  ;  for 
easily  may  I  take  them  any  day  that  I  will,  and 
then  I  have  a  case  against  them,  and  may  lawfully 
chastise  them  according  to  the  law  that  has  been 
given  unto  me  ;  and  then  shall  they  be  in  grievous 
plight.  Wherefore  the  rede  We  give  unto  you 
three  now  is  the  rede  of  friendliness  that  ye  make 
yourselves  happy  in  Our  Island,  and  then  will  We 
do  everything  We  may  for  your  pleasure  and  de- 
light ;  and  if  ye  will  that  We  make  Ourselves  even 
fairer  than  now  We  be,  that  may  be  done,  and 
shall  be  a  reward  unto  you  for  your  yielding  and 
obedience.  And  if  ye  will  women  thralls  for  your 
pleasure,  that  also  may  be  gotten  for  you  ;  for  We 
be  not  wholly  without  power  in  these  waters, 
though  We  have  no  keel  or  ferry  upon  them. 
And  now,  thou  fair  lad.  We  give  thee  this  last  word  : 
Ye  Champions  have  been  dwelling  in  Our  house 


THE    TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     329 

a  long  while,  and  that  while  have  ever  striven  to 
thwart  Us.  We  now  counsel  you  to  make  an  end 
of  it,  and  it  shall  be  better  for  you. 

She  seemed  to  my  eyes  prouder  and  stupider 
than  ever  erst,  despite  her  golden  hair  and  white 
skin  and  lovely  limbs  ;  and  I  said  to  myself  that 
now  must  we  destroy  the  evil  of  that  house  even  if 
we  died  for  it,  or  else  we  were  all  undone  ;  withal 
I  saw  somewhat  of  truth  thrusting  up  through  her 
much  lying,  and  I  deemed,  even  as  Arthur  did, 
that  she  had  our  friends  under  her  hand  some- 
where. 

Nought  else  betid  that  night ;  but  on  the  mor- 
row we  went  forth  and  strayed  on  till  we  were  come 
into  the  southernmost  quarter  of  the  isle,  and  not 
very  far  from  the  water  we  came  upon  a  wood  or 
big  thicket  which  was  new  to  us.  So  we  entered 
it,  and  as  we  went  and  noted  the  wild  things  of  the 
wood  going  hither  and  thither,  we  espied  afar  off 
the  shape  of  a  man  going  amidst  the  thicket ; 
wherefore  we  went  warily  towards  him,  lest  he 
should  see  us  and  flee  from  us  ;  and  when  we  drew 
a  little  nigher  we  saw  it  was  a  woman,  though  she 
was  clad  as  a  hunter,  with  legs  naked  to  above  the 
knee.  She  had  a  quiver  at  her  back  and  a  bow  in 
her  hand,  and  her  coat  was  black  of  hue.  Belike 
now  she  heard  our  going  amongst  the  dry  leaves, 
for  she  turned  her  face  to  us,  and  lo  !  it  was  the  face 
of  Atra. 

When  she  saw  us,  she  gave  a  shrill  cry,  and  fell 
to  running  at  her  swiftest  away  from  us,  and  we 
followed  all  we  might,  but  we  could  not  over-run 


330     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

her,  though  we  kept  her  in  sight  ever,  till  we  had 
run  all  through  the  wood,  and  before  us  was  the 
sheer  side  of  a  rocky  hill  and  the  mouth  of  a  cave 
therein,  and  by  the  said  mouth  who  should  there 
be  but  Aurea  and  Viridis,  as  we  thought,  clad  in 
gold  and  in  green,  but  the  fashion  of  their  raiment 
not  otherwise  than  Atra's.  Their  bows  were  bended 
and  they  had  shafts  in  their  hands,  and  as  we  came 
out  of  the  thicket  into  the  open  lawn  before  the 
cave,  Viridis  nocked  a  shaft  and  aimed  at  us  and 
drew,  and  the  shaft  flew  over  my  head ;  therewith 
mocking  laughter  came  from  them,  and  they  ran 
into  the  cave.  Speedily  we  ran  up  to  it,  but  when 
we  came  home  thither,  there  was  the  sheer  hill- 
side, but  never  a  cave  nor  an  opening. 

Dismayed  were  we  thereat ;  but  more  dismayed 
had  we  been  but  that  we  deemed  that  all  this  was 
but  a  cheat  and  a  painted  show  put  upon  us  by  the 
witch  to  back  up  her  lying.  Nevertheless  we  fared 
the  next  day  to  seek  the  wood  and  the  cave  in  the 
sheer  rock,  but  nowise  might  we  find  either  wood 
or  cave. 

Now  it  was  the  night  of  the  day  hereafter,  as  we 
went  to  our  chambers,  that  the  witch-wife  took  me 
by  the  hand  and  led  me  apart,  and  said  me  many 
soft  things  of  her  accursed  lust,  whereof  I  will  not 
say  one  again.  But  the  upshot  of  it  all  was  that 
she  would  bring  me  to  her  chamber  and  her  bed. 
And  whereas  I  was  determined  what  to  do,  and  had 
my  war-sword  by  my  side,  I  naysaid  her  not,  but 
made  her  good  countenance.  And  when  we  came 
to  her  chamber,  which  was  full  gloriously  dight, 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     33 1 

and  fragrant  as  with  the  scent  of  the  roses  and  lUies 
of  mid-June,  she  bade  me  to  lie  in  her  bed  of  gold 
and  ivory  and  she  would  be  with  me  anon.  So  I 
unclad  myself  and  laid  me  down,  but  I  drew  forth 
my  sword,  and  laid  the  ancient  naked  blade  be- 
twixt my  side  and  her  place. 

Anon  she  cometh  back  again  unclad,  and  would 
step  into  the  bed  ;  but  she  saw  the  sword  and  said  : 
What  is  this.  Champion  ?  Said  I  :  These  edges 
are  the  token  of  sundering  between  us,  for  there  is 
a  spell  on  me,  that  with  no  woman  may  I  deal,  save 
with  mine  only  love,  but  I  shall  do  her  mortal  scathe ; 
so  beware  by  the  token  of  the  grey  edges  of  battle. 
She  drew  aback,  and  was  as  a  spiteful  and  angry 
cat,  and  there  was  no  loveliness  in  her ;  and  she 
said  :  Thou  liest,  and  thou  hatest  me;  see  thou  to 
it,  both  for  thyself  and  thy  leveling.  And  she  turned 
about  and  strode  out  of  the  chamber ;  but  I  arose 
and  clad  myself  in  haste,  and  took  my  naked  sword 
in  my  hand.  But  before  I  went,  I  looked  around, 
and  espied  an  ambry  fashioned  in  the  wall  of  the 
bed-lane,  and  the  door  was  half  open;  and  the  said 
ambry  was  wrought  of  the  daintiest,  all  of  gold  and 
pearl  and  gems  ;  and  I  said  to  myself:  Herein  is 
some  treasure,  and  this  is  a  tide  of  war.  So  I 
opened  the  ambry,  and  within  it  was  even  more 
gloriously  wrought  than  without  ;  and  there  was 
nought  therein,  save  a  little  flask  of  crystal  done 
about  with  bands  of  gold  set  with  great  and  goodly 
gems.  So  I  took  the  said  flask  and  went  my  ways 
hastily  to  my  own  chamber,  and  there  I  looked  at 
the  said  flask  and  took  out  the  stopple  ;  and  there 


22^     THE  WATER    OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

was  a  liquor  therein,  white  Hke  to  water,  but  of  a 
spicy  smell,  sweet,  fresh,  and  enheartening.  So  I 
yet  thought  this  was  some  great  treasure,  and  that 
much  hung  upon  it,  could  I  find  out  unto  what 
use  it  might  be  put.  And  I  said  :  To-morrow  we 
will  put  it  to  the  proof  Then  I  put  the  said  flask 
under  my  pillow,  and  laid  my  sword  by  my  side 
and  slept,  and  was  not  ill-content  so  far. 

But  on  the  morrow,  when  I  met  my  fellows, 
they  asked  me  how  I  had  sped,  and  I  told  them, 
Well,  and  that  we  would  talk  the  matter  over  under 
our  tree  of  counsel.  So  we  went  down  into  the 
hall,  where  we  met  the  witch-lady  ;  and  I  looked 
for  it  that  she  would  be  angry  and  fierce  with  me  ; 
but  it  went  far  otherwise  ;  for  she  was  bhthe  and 
buxom,  and  abounding  in  endearments  more  than 
I  could  away  with.  But  this  I  noted,  that  her 
eyes  wandered,  and  her  speech  faltered  at  whiles, 
and  ever  she  seemed  to  be  seeking  somewhat ;  and 
withal  that  her  caressing  hands  were  seeking  if  they 
could  aught  stowed  away  in  the  bosom  of  my  coat. 
But  all  was  nought,  for  as  we  came  to  the  door  of 
the  hall  I  gave  Baudoin  the  flask  to  guard  until 
we  should  come  to  our  apple-tree  of  rede.  Where- 
fore the  she-wolf  went  red  and  white  by  turns,  and 
fumed,  and  fretted  her  bedizenments  with  unrest- 
ful  hands,  and  when  she  should  let  us  go  our  ways, 
she  lingered  and  looked  back  oft,  and  was  loth  to 
depart  ere  she  had  gotten  what  she  lacked,  and 
that,  forsooth,  was  the  said  flasket. 

But  when  we  were  without  the  house,  I  bade 
our  fellows  go  with  me  to  another  place  than  the 


THE   TALE    OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     ^^^ 

wonted  apple-tree  of  rede,  and  they  understood 
my  word,  and  I  led  them  to  a  little  grassy  plain 
without  the  orchard,  where  was  no  covert  for  a 
wide  space  about  it,  nought  but  the  one  linden- 
tree  under  which  now  we  sat.  There  I  told  them 
all  the  tale  of  the  last  night  and  of  the  flasket,  and 
put  before  them  all  that  was  in  my  mind  to  do  that 
evening  at  the  banquet,  and  they  both  of  them 
yeasaid  it.  But  what  it  was,  that  shall  ye  hear 
anon  when  we  carried  the  matter  through  ;  but  I 
bade  Baudoin  still  carry  the  flasket  till  the  even- 
ing. 

Thereafter  we  spake  of  other  matters  ;  but  soon 
we  had  good  cause  to  rejoice  that  we  had  not  talked 
our  talk  under  the  apple-tree  (whereas  I  doubted 
not  that  the  witch  would  spy  upon  us  there),  for 
not  long  had  we  been  at  our  talk  ere,  looking  that 
way,  we  saw  the  evil  creature  by  the  hedge  of  the 
orchard  and  gazing  over  at  us. 

We  arose  then,  and  came  to  her  as  if  nought 
had  happened ;  and  she  bade  us  walk  the  garden 
with  her,  and  we  yeasaid  it,  and  went  with  her,  and 
paced  about  amidst  the  flowers  and  lay  on  the 
blossomed  grass.  Forsooth,  both  to  her  and  to 
us  the  time  hung  heavy  on  hand.  And  meseemed 
that  the  sleekness  and  fairness  of  her  body  was 
worsened  since  yesterday,  and  she  was  pale  and 
haggard,  and  her  eyes  were  wandering  and  afraid. 

Now  she  bade  us  come  a  little  further  into  the 
garden  and  eat  a  morsel  at  noon  ;  and  we  arose, 
and  she  brought  us  to  where  were  vines  trellised 
all  about  and  overhead,  so  that  it  was  like   a  fair 


334     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

green  cloister  ;  and  there  was  a  board  laid  and 
spread  with  many  dainties  of  meat  and  drink.  And 
she  bade  us  sit.  Verily  we  had  but  little  stomach 
to  that  dinner ;  and  I  said  to  myself.  Poison ! 
poison  !  and  even  so  my  fellows  deemed,  as  after- 
wards they  told  me.  And  I  saw  Baudoin  loosen 
his  sword  in  the  sheath,  and  I  knew  that  his  mind 
was  to  smite  at  once  if  he  saw  aught  amiss.  And 
I,  who  sat  next  to  the  witch,  laid  my  hand  on  a 
little  dagger  which  I  wore  at  my  girdle.  She  also 
saw  this,  and  turned  as  pale  as  death,  and  sat  trem- 
bling before  us  ;  and  whatso  we  ate  or  drank  at 
that  board  under  the  rustling  vine-leaves,  she  gave 
unto  us  with  her  own  hand ;  and  then  we  wotted 
full  surely  that  she  had  meant  our  deaths  there  and 
then,  but  was  cowed  by  the  fierce  eyes  of  Baudoin 
and  the  threat  of  my  hand. 

Withal  it  seemed  that  she  might  not  bear  it  to 
sit  there  long  amongst  us.  She  rose  up  and  smiled 
on  us  as  ghastly  as  a  corpse,  and  gave  us  leave,  and 
went  hurrying  into  the  house.  And  right  glad  we 
were  to  be  at  rest  from  her.  Yet  as  we  ourselves 
durst  not  go  far  away  from  the  house,  lest  some 
new  thing  might  happen,  neither  could  she  leave 
us  quite  alone,  but  thrice  again  that  afternoon  at 
some  turn  of  the  garden,  or  orchard,  or  meadow, 
we  came  upon  her  wan  face  and  eyes  full  of  all 
hate  and  staring  pride,  and  she  enforced  her  to 
smile  upon  us,  and  turned  away  with  some  idle 
word. 

At  last  the  sun  began  to  sink,  and  we  went  to 
the  perron  of  the  house,  and  found  her  standing  to 


THE   TALE   OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     335 

meet  us  in  her  wonted  way.  But  when  we  came 
up  she  gave  no  hand  to  any  one  of  us,  but  went 
up  the  stairs  before  us,  and  we  followed  with  no 
word  spoken. 

There  was  the  hall  with  the  lordly  service  on  the 
board,  and  the  wax-candles  lighted  all  about,  and 
the  great  vault  of  stone  fair  and  stately  over  it. 
We  went  to  the  dais  and  the  board  and  sat  down, 
the  witch-wife  in  her  gold  and  ivory  chair  at  the 
board's  end,  and  I  at  her  right  hand  and  looking 
down  the  hall,  my  two  fellows  facing  me,  with  their 
backs  to  the  clear  of  the  hall. 

There  we  sat,  and  the  meats  and  drinks  were 
before  us  as  dainty  as  ever  erst ;  but  we  put  forth 
no  hand  to  them,  but  sat  staring  at  each  other  for 
some  two  minutes  it  might  be,  and  the  witch  looked 
from  one  to  the  other  of  us,  and  quaked  that  her 
hands  shook  like  palsy. 

Then  I  rose  up  and  put  my  hand  to  my  bosom 
(for  Baudoin  had  given  me  the  flasket  ere  we  came 
to  the  perron) :  I  spake  in  a  loud  voice,  and  it 
sounded  wild  and  hard  in  the  goodly  hall  :  My 
lady,  I  said,  thou  art  looking  but  pale  now,  and 
sick  and  downcast.  Drink  now  to  me  out  of  this 
precious  flasket,  and  thou  shalt  be  whole  and  well. 

And  therewith  I  held  the  flasket  aloft ;  but  her 
face  changed  horribly  ;  she  sprang  up  in  her  chair 
and  reached  out  her  arm  to  clutch  at  the  flasket, 
screaming  like  an  eagle  therewith.  But  I  thrust 
her  back  into  the  chair  with  my  left  hand  ;  and 
therewith  arose  Baudoin  and  Arthur,  and  caught 
her  by  the  shoulders,  and  bound  her  fast  to  the 


23^     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

chair  with  cords  that  they  had  gotten  thereto.  But 
when  she  got  her  breath  she  yelled  out  :  Ah,  now 
shall  all  tumble  together,  my  proudful  house  and 
I  under  it !  Loose  me,  traitors  !  loose  me,  fools  ! 
and  give  me  one  draught  of  the  water  of  might, 
and  then  shall  I  tell  you  all,  and  ye  shall  go  free 
with  your  thralls  if  ye  will.  Ah  !  ye  will  not  loose 
me  ?  ye  will  not  ?  Well  then,  at  least  ye,  the  fools, 
shall  be  under  it,  and  they  also,  the  she-traitors,  the 
scourged  and  tormented  fools  that  might  not  save 
themselves  from  me.  O  loose  me!  loose  me  !  thou 
in  whose  arms  I  have  lain  so  many  a  night,  and  give 
me  to  drink  of  the  proud  water  of  might ! 

So  she  yelled  ;  and  now  had  all  the  fairness  gone 
from  her  body  :  flaggy  and  yellow  were  her  limbs, 
and  she  looked  all  over  as  her  face,  a  lump  of  stu- 
pid and  cruel  pride,  and  her  words  lost  meaning 
and  changed  into  mere  bestial  howling.  But  for 
me,  since  she  so  desired  that  water,  I  knew  that  it 
was  good  for  us  to  drink,  and  I  took  out  the  stop- 
ple and  drank,  and  it  was  as  if  fire  ran  through 
all  my  veins,  and  I  felt  my  strength  three-folded 
straightway,  and  most  wondrous  clear  was  my  sight 
grown  therewith  ;  and  I  raised  my  eyes  now  and 
looked  down  the  hall,  and  lo,  there  was  Aurea, 
chained  by  the  ankle  to  the  third  pillar  from  the 
dais ;  and  over  against  her,  Viridis ;  and  next,  to 
the  fourth  pillar,  Atra.  Then  I  cried  in  a  loud 
voice  that  rang  through  the  witch's  hall  :  Lo  what 
I  see  !  And  I  ran  round  the  head  of  the  board,  and 
thrust  and  dragged  Baudoin  and  Arthur  along  with 
me,  crying  out:   Come,  come!    they  are  found! 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     337 

they  are  here  !  And  I  came  to  my  sweetling,  and 
found  her  clad  but  in  her  white  smock,  which  was 
flecked  with  blood  all  about,  and  her  face  was  wan 
and  pined,  and  the  tears  began  to  run  when  she  saw 
me,  but  no  word  came  from  her  lips  though  the 
kissing  of  them  was  sweet. 

Then  I  turned  about  to  my  two  fellows,  and  they 
stood  bewildered,  not  knowing  what  was  toward; 
and  I  came  to  them  and  made  them  drink  of  the 
flasket,  and  their  eyes  were  opened  and  the  strength 
of  giants  came  to  them,  and  they  ran  each  to  his 
sweetling ;  but  Baudoin,  before  ever  he  kissed 
Aurea,  caught  hold  of  the  chain  that  bound  her  to 
the  pillar,  and  by  main  force  dragged  it  out.  Wise 
was  that,  meseemed,  for  words  were  again  come  into 
the  witch's  howls,  and  I  heard  her  :  Ah,  long  may 
ye  be  playing  with  the  chains,  long!  for  now  the 
house  rumbleth  toward  its  fall.  Ah,  the  bitches 
are  loose  !  Woe's  me  !  to  die  alone  !  And  once 
more  she  howled  wordless,  as  both  I  and  Arthur 
had  our  loves  in  our  arms,  and  fell  to  following 
Baudoin  out  on  to  the  perron  and  down  into  the 
fresh  fragrant  garden  wherein  now  was  the  moon 
beginning  to  cast  shadows. 

Stood  we  then  aloof  from  the  house,  and  the 
rumbling  whereof  the  evil  hag  had  howled  waxed 
into  a  thunder,  and  under  our  very  eyes  the  great 
white  walls  and  gold-adorned  roofs  fell  together, 
and  a  great  cloud  of  dust  rose  under  the  clear  moon- 
lit sky. 

We  looked  and  wondered,  and  our  loves  also, 
but  no  word  they  spake;  but  ere  the  other  two  had 

22 


338     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

time  to  grieve  thereat,  I  gave  Viridis  to  drink  of  the 
water  of  might,  and  she  fell  to  sweet  speech  straight- 
way, of  such  sort  and  such  wise  as  I  will  not  tell 
you.  Then  I  did  the  same  by  Aurea  and  Atra, 
and  forthwith  the  speech  flowed  from  them  to  their 
friends. 

Full  happy  were  we  then  in  the  early  night-sea- 
son, for  the  water  of  might  gave  them  strength  also, 
as  to  us,  and  healed  all  the  stripes  and  wounds  their 
bodies  had  suffered  of  the  foul  witch,  and  made 
their  eyes  bright,  and  their  cheeks  full  and  firm,  and 
their  lips  most  sweet,  and  their  hands  strong  and 
delicious. 

Now  when  we  had  stood  gazing  toward  the  melt- 
ing of  the  beauteous  palace  for  a  little,  we  took  our 
darlings  in  our  arms  again,  whereas  the  chains  would 
have  hindered  their  walking,  and  went  down  to  the 
lip  of  the  water  whereas  lay  the  Sending  Boat,  so 
that  we  might  be  anigh  our  ferry  in  case  of  need  ; 
for  we  knew  not  what  might  betide  the  isle  now 
its  mistress  had  perished.  Then  we  fell  to  and 
sawed  off  the  chains  from  the  dear  ankles  with  our 
swords,  and  took  Birdalone's  lendings  from  the  mail. 
And  Aurea  had  her  gown  again,  and  Viridis  her 
smock,  and  my  green  surcoat  over  it,  and  Atra  wore 
the  battle-coat  of  the  Black  Squire.  As  for  their  bare 
feet  (for  Atra  would  not  have  hers  dight  prouder 
than  her  sisters'),  we  so  clad  them  with  kisses  that 
they  were  not  ill-covered  belike. 

So  gat  we  aboard  our  ferry,  and  did  blood-offer- 
ing to  the  wight  thereof,  and  so  sped  merrily  and 
lovingly  over  the  wide  lake  back  on  our  homeward 


THE    TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     339 

road.    And  we  said  :  This  hath  the  dear  Birdalone 
done  for  us. 

And  now,  my  Viridis,  I  will  that  thou  fill  up 
the  tale  by  telling  to  Birdalone,  as  ye  told  us,  how 
it  fared  with  you  three  and  the  evil  one  from  the 
time  that  ye  sped  Birdalone  on  her  way  till  the 
moment  when  mine  eyes  first  beheld  you  made  fast 
to  the  pillars  of  the  palace  which  has  crumbled  into 
dust. 


CHAPTER  X.  HOW  IT  FARED  WITH 
THE  THREE  LADIES  AFTER  THE 
ESCAPE  OF  BIRDALONE. 

VIRIDIS  took  up  the  word  without  more 
ado,  and  said  :  I  will  do  my  best  herein,  and 
ye,  sisters,  must  set  me  right  if  I  err.  When 
we  had  seen  the  last  of  you,  dear  Birdalone,  that 
early  morning,  we  turned  back  again  to  the  house 
as  speedily  and  as  covertly  as  we  might,  lest  the 
witch  might  espy  our  disarray  and  question  us 
thereover.  Then  we  went  to  the  wonder-coffer,  and 
gat  thereout  raiment  for  that  which  we  had  given 
away,  which  was  easy  for  us  to  do,  whereas  the  witch- 
mistress  was  so  slothful  that  she  had  given  to  us  the 
words  of  might  wherewith  to  compel  the  coffer  to 
yield,  so  that  we  might  do  all  the  service  thereof, 
and  she  not  to  move  hand  or  foot  in  the  matter. 
So  when  we  were  clad,  and  the  time  was  come,  we 
went  into  the  hall,  by  no  means  well  assured  of 
our  mistress. 

When  we  came  before  her,  she  looked  on  us  in 
surly  wise,  as  her  wont  was,  and  said  nought  for  a 
while ;  she  stared  on  us  and  knit  her  brows,  as  if 
she  strove  to  call  to  mind  something  that  ran  to  and 
fro  in  her  memory  ;  and  I  noted  that,  and  for  my 
part  I  trembled  before  her.  But  she  spake  at  last : 
Meseemeth  as  if  there  is  a  woman  in  the  isle  be- 
sides you  three ;  some  misdoer  that  I  was  minded 
to  punish.  Tell  me,  you  !  was  there  not  a  naked 
one  who  came  into  this  hall  a  while  ago,  one  whom 
I  threatened  with  pining  ?   Atra,  who  was  the  bold- 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     34I 

est  of  us,  bowed  the  knee  before  her,  and  said:  Nay, 
our  lady,  since  when  do  stranger  women  come  naked 
into  thine  hall,  and  dare  thee  there  ? 

Said  the  witch  :  Yet  have  I  an  image  of  a  naked 
woman  standing  down  there  before  me ;  and  if  I 
have  it  in  mine  eye,  so  should  ye.  Tell  me  there- 
fore, and  beware,  for  We  are  not  bidden  to  hold  Our 
hand  from  you  if  We  take  you  in  misdeeds. 

If  I  quaked  before,  now  much  more  I  quaked, 
till  my  legs  well-nigh  failed  me  for  fear ;  but  Atra 
said  :  Great  lady,  this  image  will  belike  be  of  that 
one  whom  a  while  ago  ye  had  stripped  and  tied  to 
a  pillar  here,  and  tormented  while  ye  feasted. 

The  lady  looked  on  her  hard,  and  again  seemed 
striving  to  gather  up  the  thrums  of  some  memory, 
and  then  her  face  became  smooth  again,  and  she 
spake  lightly  :  All  that  may  well  be ;  so  do  ye  go 
about  your  due  service,  and  trouble  Our  rest  here 
no  longer ;  for  We  love  not  to  look  on  folk  who 
be  not  wholly  Our  own  to  pine  or  to  spare,  to  slay 
or  let  live,  as  We  will ;  and  We  would  that  the 
winds  and  the  waves  would  send  Us  some  such  now; 
for  it  is  like  to  living  all  alone  to  have  but  such  as 
you  with  Us,  and  none  to  cower  before  Us  and  en- 
treat Us  of  mercy.     So  begone,  I  bid  you. 

Thus  for  that  time  were  we  saved  from  the  witch's 
cruelty;  but  our  time  came  before  long.  The  days 
wore  heavily,  nor  kept  we  count  of  them  lest  we 
should  lose  heart  for  the  weariness  of  waiting.  But 
on  a  day  as  we  stood  on  the  steps  of  the  perron  and 
served  my  lady  with  dainties,  of  a  hot  afternoon, 
came  two  great  white  doves  a-flying,  who  pitched 


342     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

down  right  before  our  mistress's  feet;  and  each  had 
a  gold  ring  about  his  neck,  and  a  scroll  tied  there- 
to, and  the  witch  bade  us  take  the  doves  and  take 
off  the  scrolls  and  give  them  unto  her;  and  she 
looked  on  the  gold  rings  which  the  doves  bore, 
and  for  a  moment  on  the  scrolls,  and  then  she  said : 
Take  ye  the  doves  and  cherish  them,  lest  We  have 
need  of  them ;  take  also  the  two  scrolls  and  keep 
them  till  to-morrow  morning,  and  then  give  them 
into  Our  hands.  And  look  ye  to  this,  that  if  ye 
give  them  not  unto  Us  it  will  be  treason  against 
Us,  and  We  shall  have  a  case  against  you,  and  your 
bodies  will  be  Ours. 

Then  she  rose  up  slowly,  and  bade  me  to  her  that 
she  might  lean  upon  my  shoulder  and  be  helped 
upstairs,  so  slothful  a  beast  as  she  was;  and  as  we 
went  up  I  heard  her  say  softly  to  herself:  Weary 
on  it,  now  must  I  drink  a  sup  of  the  Water  of 
Might,  that  I  may  remember  and  do  and  desire. 
But  dear  is  my  sister,  and  without  doubt  she  hath 
matters  of  import  to  tell  me  by  these  doves. 

So  when  we  were  together  alone  I  told  the  others 
hereof,  and  we  talked  it  over;  and  they  deemed 
the  tidings  ill,  even  as  I  did;  for  we  might  not 
doubt  but  that  the  doves  were  a  sending  from  the 
witch-sister  who  dwelt  at  the  House  under  the 
Wood;  and  sore  we  misdoubted  that  they  were 
sped  to  our  mistress  to  tell  her  of  thee,  Birdalone, 
and  mayhappen  of  the  Quest,  so  wise  as  we  knew 
she  was.  As  to  the  two  scrolls,  forsooth,  they  were 
open,  and  not  sealed;  but  when  we  looked  on  them 
we  could  make  nought  of  it;  for  though  they  were 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     343 

writ  fairly  in  Latin  script,  so  that  we  read  them, 
yet  of  the  words  no  whit  might  we  understand,  so 
we  feared  the  worst.  But  what  might  we  do?  we 
had  but  two  choices,  either  to  cast  ourselves  into 
the  water,  or  abide  what  should  befall ;  and  this  last 
one  we  chose  because  of  the  hope  of  deliverance. 

Next  morning,  therefore,  we  came  before  our 
mistress  in  the  hall,  and  we  found  her  pacing  up 
and  down  before  the  dais;  though  her  wont  was  at 
that  hour  to  be  sitting  in  her  throne  of  gold  and 
ivory,  lying  back  on  the  cushions  half  asleep. 

So  Atra  went  up  to  her,  and  knelt  before  her 
and  gave  her  the  scrolls,  and  she  looked  on  her 
grimly,  and  smiled  evilly,  and  said:  Kneel  there 
yet;  and  ye  others  kneel  also,  till  I  see  what  befitteth 
you.  So  did  we,  and  indeed  I  was  fain  to  kneel,  for 
I  might  scarce  stand  up  for  terror;  and  all  of  us, 
our  hearts  died  within  us. 

But  the  witch  read  those  scrolls  to  herself,  sitting 
in  her  throne,  and  spake  not  a  long  while ;  then  she 
said :  Come  hither,  and  grovel  before  Us,  and 
hearken  !  Even  so  we  did ;  and  she  said  again  : 
Our  sister,  who  hath  been  so  kind  unto  you,  and 
saved  you  from  so  many  pains,  here  telleth  Us, 
by  the  message  of  the  two  doves,  that  ye  have  be- 
trayed Us  and  her,  and  have  stolen  her  thrall  and 
her  Sending  Boat,  and  sent  her  an  errand  for  Our 
destruction;  and  therewith  she  delivereth  you  into 
Our  hands,  and  ye  are  Ours  henceforward;  nor  is 
it  to  be  thought  that  ye  may  escape  Us.  Now,  for 
your  treason,  some  would  slay  you  outright  here 
and  now,  but  We  will  be  merciful,  and  let  you  live, 


344     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  do  no  more  than  chastise  you  sharply  now ; 
and  thereafter  shall  ye  be  Our  very  thralls  to  do 
as  We  will  with  :  thereafter,  that  is  to  say,  when 
they  whom  ye  have  sent  Our  sister's  thrall  to  fetch 
have  come  hither  (as  belike  I  may  scarce  stay 
them),  and  I  have  foiled  them  and  used  them,  and 
sent  them  away  empty.  Now  I  tell  you,  that 
meanwhile  of  their  coming  shall  ye  suffer  such 
things  as  We  will;  and  when  they  be  here  We  will 
not  forbid  you  to  be  anigh  them;  but  We  shall  see 
that  there  will  be  little  joy  to  you  in  that  nighness. 
Yea,  ye  shall  know  now  to  what  market  ye  have 
brought  your  wares,  and  what  the  price  of  treason 
is  therein. 

Verily  then  we  suffered  at  her  hand  what  she 
would,  whereof  it  would  shame  me  to  tell  more  as 
at  this  present;  and  thereafter  did  she  chain  us  to 
those  three  pillars  of  the  hall  whereas  ye  found  us 
chained;  and  we  were  fed  as  dogs  be,  and  served 
as  dogs,  but  we  endured  all  for  the  sake  of  hope; 
and  when  we  durst,  and  deemed  the  witch  would 
not  hear  us,  we  spake  together  and  enheartened 
each  other. 

But  on  the  fourth  day  of  our  torment  came  the 
witch  to  us,  and  gave  us  to  drink  a  certain  red 
water  from  out  of  a  leaden  flasket;  and  when  I  drank 
I  deemed  it  was  poison,  and  was  glad,  if  gladness 
might  be  in  me  at  such  a  tide;  and  when  I  had 
drunk  I  felt  an  icy  chill  go  through  all  my  body, 
and  all  things  swam  before  my  eyes,  and  deadly 
sickness  came  over  me.  But  that  passed  away 
from  me  presently,  and  I  felt  helpless  and  yet  not 


THE    TALE   OF    THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     345 

feeble;  all  sounds  heard  I  clearer  than  ever  yet  in 
my  life;  also  I  saw  the  hall,  every  arch  and  pillar 
and  fret,  and  the  gleam  on  the  pavement  from  the 
bright  sun  that  might  not  enter;  and  the  witch  I 
saw  walking  up  and  down  the  hall  by  the  dais;  but 
my  sisters  I  saw  not  when  I  looked  across  to  their 
pillars.  Moreover,  I  might  not  see  myself  when 
I  reached  out  my  hand  or  my  foot,  though  I  saw 
the  chain  which  made  my  ankle  fast  to  the  pillar; 
and  withal,  when  1  set  my  hand  on  my  face,  or  any 
other  part  of  my  body,  or  what  else  I  might  touch, 
I  felt  there  what  I  looked  to  feel,  were  it  flesh  or 
linen,  or  the  cold  iron  of  my  fetter,  or  the  polished 
face  of  the  marble  pillar. 

Now  I  knew  scarce  if  I  were  alive  or  dead,  or 
if  I  were  but  beginning  to  be  dead  ;  but  there  came 
upon  me  the  desire  of  life,  and  I  strove  to  cry  out 
to  the  sisters,  but  though  I  formed  the  words  in 
my  mouth,  and  did  with  my  throat  as  when  one 
cries  out  aloud,  yet  no  sound  of  a  voice  came  from 
me,  and  more  helpless  did  I  feel  than  erst. 

But  even  therewith  I  saw  the  witch  come  toward 
me,  and  therewith  all  my  body  felt  such  fear  of 
her  that  I  knew  I  was  not  dead.  Then  she  came 
before  me  and  said :  O  shadow  of  a  thrall,  whom 
none  can  see  but  them  unto  whom  wisdom  hath 
given  eyes  to  see  wonders  withal,  now  have  I  tid- 
ings for  thee  and  thy  sisters,  to  wit,  that  your 
lovers  and  seekers  are  at  hand;  and  presently  I 
shall  bring  them  into  this  hall,  and  they  shall  be 
so  nigh  unto  you  that  ye  might  touch  them  if  I 
did  not  forbid  it ;  but  they  shall  not  see  you,  but 


346     THE  WATER    OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

shall  wonder  where  I  have  hidden  you,  and  shall 
go  seeking  you  to-day  and  many  days,  and  shall 
find  you  not  at  all.  So  make  ye  the  most  of  the 
sight  of  them,  for  in  them  henceforward  ye  have 
no  other  part  or  lot. 

Therewith  she  spat  out  at  me,  and  went  over  to 
my  sisters,  and  said  words  of  like  import  to  those 
which  she  had  said  unto  me.  And  presently  she 
went  out  of  the  hall ;  and  not  long  afterwards  I 
heard  voices  speaking  on  the  perron,  and  knew  one 
for  the  voice  of  the  witch,  and  the  other  for  the 
voice  of  my  lord  Baudoin ;  and  then  again  wore  a 
little  while,  and  I  saw  the  witch  come  through  the 
great  door  of  the  hall  leading  Sir  Arthur  by  the 
hand,  as  if  she  were  his  dear  friend,  and  Baudoin 
and  Hugh,  my  man,  following  them.  And  the 
said  witch  was  clad  full  fair,  and  had  laid  by  her 
sloth  and  stupid  pride,  as  meseemed;  and  her  limbs 
were  grown  rounder  and  sleeker,  and  her  skin  fairer, 
so  that  to  them  that  knew  her  not  she  might  well 
seem  to  be  a  goodly  woman. 

Now  they  sat  to  meat  as  my  man  hath  told  you, 
and  then  departed  from  the  hall,  and  the  witch  also. 
But  after  a  while  she  came  back  again  and  loosed 
us,  and  grimly  bade  us  go  with  her,  and  needs  must 
we,  though  we  could  not  so  much  as  see  our  own 
feet  upon  the  floor.  And  she  set  us  to  tasks  about 
the  house,  and  stood  by  while  we  toiled  for  her, 
and  mocked  us  not  without  stripes,  and  in  all  ways 
was  as  rough  and  cruel  and  hard  with  us  as  she  had 
been  smooth  and  debonair  to  our  lords  ;  but  after 
noon  she  brought  us  back  and  chained  us  to  our 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     347 

pillars  again.  And  when  the  evening  came  and  the 
banquet  was,  it  was  we  who  were  the  unseen  play- 
ers of  the  string-play ;  and  we  might  play  no  other 
melody  than  what  the  witch  bade  us  ;  else  belike, 
could  we  have  held  converse,  we  might  have  played 
such  tunes  as  would  have  smitten  the  hearts  of  our 
loves,  and  told  them  that  we  were  anigh.  To  make 
a  short  story  of  it,  thus  did  she  day  by  day,  and  no 
comfort  or  converse  might  we  sisters  have  of  each 
other,  or  of  aught  else  save  the  sight  of  our  beloved 
ones,  and  a  glimmer  of  hope  therewith.  And,  for- 
sooth, for  as  grievously  as  my  heart  was  wrung  by 
the  yearning  of  me  for  my  love,  yet  was  it  a  joy 
unto  me  to  think  that  he  went  there  desiring  me, 
and  that  I  whom  he  desired  was  not  the  poor 
wretched  creature  chained  there  in  her  nakedness, 
with  her  body  spoiled  by  torment  and  misery,  but 
the  glad  maiden  whom  he  had  so  often  called  fair 
and  lovesome. 

So  passed  the  days,  and  at  last  hope  had  grown 
so  pale  and  wan,  that  she  was  no  more  to  be  seen 
by  us  than  we  were  by  our  lords  ;  and  now  it 
seemed  to  me  that  death  was  coming,  so  feeble  and 
wretched  as  I  grew.  But  the  witch  would  not  let 
us  die,  but  sustained  us  from  time  to  time  with  some 
little  draughts  of  a  witch-drink  that  revived  us. 

So  wore  the  time  till  that  evening,  when  came 
hope  together  with  the  fulfilment  of  hope,  so  that 
one  minute  we  durst  hope  for  deliverance,  and  the 
next  we  were  delivered. 

Nor  is  there  more  to  tell,  Birdalone,  my  dear, 
save  that  we  came  safely  to  the  Isle  of  the  Young 


348     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  the  Old  in  the  full  morning-tide  ;  and  as  our 
ferry  drew  nigh  the  green  shore,  there  were  the 
two  younglings  whereof  thou  didst  tell  us  await- 
ing our  landing,  and  when  we  stepped  ashore  they 
came  to  us  bearing  cakes  and  fruit  in  a  fair  basket, 
and  they  made  much  of  us  and  we  of  them.  And  so 
we  came  to  the  old  man,  who  was  exceeding  fain 
of  us,  and  grand  and  courteous,  till  he  became  a 
little  drunk,  and  then  he  was  somewhat  over-kind 
to  us  women.  Nevertheless,  there  in  that  pleas- 
ant isle  we  rested  us  for  three  days,  that  we  might 
somewhat  calm  and  refresh  our  spirits  with  what 
was  small  and  of  little  account.  And  when  we  de- 
parted, the  old  man  followed  us  down  to  the  strand, 
and  lamented  our  departure,  as  he  had  done  with 
our  lords  erewhile  ;  only  this  time  yet  greater  was 
his  lamentation,  and  needs  must  we  kiss  him,  each 
one  of  us,  or  never  had  he  been  done.  So  he  turned 
up  landward,  bewailing  the  miss  of  us,  but  pres- 
ently, before  we  had  seen  the  last  of  him,  was  cheer- 
ful again  and  singing. 

So  we  went  on  our  way  ;  and  we  also,  we  maid- 
ens, in  our  turn,  saw  those  woeful  images  of  the  Isle 
of  Queens  and  the  Isle  of  Kings  ;  and  we  came  to 
the  Isle  of  Nothing,  and  abode  warily  by  our  ferry, 
and  so  came  away  safe,  and  thus,  as  thou  wottest, 
home  to  the  castle  to  hear  evil  tidings  of  thee. 
Now  is  this  all  my  tale. 

Birdalone  sat  shyly  and  hushed  when  all  was 
done;  and  then  all  they  did  somewhat  to  comfort 
her,  each  after  their  own  fashion ;  and  now  sorrow 
for  the  slain  man  was  made  softer  and  sweeter  for 


THE   TALE   OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     349 

them,  whereas  they  had  to  lose  not  two  fellows, 
but  one  only.  Yet,  despite  of  all,  trouble  and  care 
was  on  Birdalone's  soul  betwixt  the  joy  of  loving 
and  being  beloved,  and  the  pain  and  fear  of  rob- 
bing a  friend  of  her  love.  For  Atra's  face,  which 
she  might  not  hate,  and  scarce  might  love,  was  a 
threat  to  her  day  by  day. 


CHAPTER  XL  BIRDALONE  AND  THE 
BLACK  SOUIRE  TALK  TOGETHER  IN 
THE  HALL  OF  THE  CASTLE. 

NOW  within  a  few  days  was  the  body  of  Bau- 
doin  laid  in  earth  in  the  chapel  of  the  castle ; 
and  in  the  solemnest  of  fashions  was  the 
burial  done.  When  it  was  over,  the  two  knights 
and  Sir  Aymeris  turned  them  heartily  to  dighting 
the  war  against  the  Red  Hold,  and  less  than  a 
month  thereafter  was  the  hosting  at  the  Castle  of 
the  Quest,  and  if  the  host  were  not  very  many  (for 
it  went  not  above  sixteen  hundreds  of  men  all  told), 
yet  the  men  were  of  the  choicest,  both  of  knights 
and  sergeants  and  archers.  There  then  they  held  a 
mote  without  the  castle,  whereas  Arthur  the  Black 
Squire  was  chosen  for  captain,  and  in  three  days 
they  were  to  depart  for  the  Red  Hold. 

Now  this  while  Birdalone  had  seen  but  little  of 
Arthur,  who  was  ever  busy  about  many  matters, 
and  never  had  she  had  any  privy  talk  with  him, 
though  sore  she  longed  for  it ;  yet  indeed  it  was 
more  by  her  will  than  his  that  so  it  was.  But 
when  it  was  come  to  the  very  last  day  before  the 
departure,  she  said  that  she  must  needs  see  him 
before  he  went,  and  he  perchance  never  to  come 
back  again.  So  when  men  were  quiet  after  dinner 
she  went  into  the  hall  and  found  him  there,  pacing 
up  and  down  the  floor.  For  indeed  she  had  sent  a 
word  to  him  by  Leonard  the  priest  that  he  should 
be  there. 

So  she  went  up  to  him,  and  all  simply  she  took 


THE   TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     351 

him  by  the  hand  and  led  him  into  a  shot-window 
and  set  him  down  by  her  ;  and  he,  all  trembling 
for  love  and  fear  of  her,  might  not  forbear,  but 
kissed  her  face  and  her  mouth  many  times ;  and 
she  grew  as  hot  as  fire,  and  somewhat  she  wept. 

Then  she  spake  after  a  while  :  Dear  friend,  I 
had  it  in  my  mind  to  say  to  thee  many  things 
that  meseems  were  sage,  but  now  neither  will  the 
thought  of  them  come  into  my  mind,  nor  the  words 
into  my  mouth.  And  this  is  a  short  hour.  And 
therewith  she  fell  to  kissing  him,  till  he  was  well- 
nigh  beside  himself  betwixt  desire  and  joy  and  the 
grief  of  departure,  and  the  hardness  of  the  case. 

But  at  last  she  forbore  and  said  :  Will  it  not  be 
when  thou  art  gone  to-morrow  as  it  was  when  ye 
were  away  upon  the  Quest,  and  I  knew  not  how 
to  bear  myself,  so  heavy  lay  all  the  world  and  its 
doings  and  its  fashion  upon  me  .''  It  will  be  hard 
to  me,  he  said  ;  evil  and  grim  will  be  the  days.  She 
said :  And  yet,  even  now  in  these  last  days,  when 
I  see  thee  oft,  every  day  my  soul  is  worn  with  grief, 
and  I  know  not  what  to  do  with  myself.  I  shall 
come  back,  he  said,  and  bear  my  love  with  me,  and 
then  belike  we  shall  seek  some  remedy.  She  was 
silent  a  while,  and  then  she  said :  Meanwhile  of 
thy  coming,  and  I  see  thee  not  at  all  for  many  days, 
how  will  it  be  with  my  grief  then  ?  Qxioth  he  : 
More  than  enough  of  grief  no  soul  may  bear  ;  for 
either  death  comes,  or  else  some  dullness  of  the 
pain,  and  then  by  little  and  little  the  pain  weareth. 
Then  she  said  :  And  how  would  it  be  if  thou  come 
not  back  and  I  see  thee  never  again,  or  if  when 


2S^     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

thou  come  back  thou  find  me  not,  for  that  I  be 
either  dead  or  gone  away  out  of  thy  reach  ?  He 
said :  I  know  not  how  it  would  be.  When  thou 
sayest  thou  shalt  die,  dost  thou  wholly  believe  it  in 
thy  sense  or  thy  body  otherwise  than  Holy  Church 
would  ?  I  will  tell  thee,  she  said,  that  now  I  am 
sitting  by  thee  and  seeing  thy  face  and  hearing  thy 
voice,  it  is  that  only  which  I  believe  in  ;  for  I  may 
think  of  nought  else  of  either  grief  or  joy.  Yea, 
when  I  wept  e'en  now,  it  was  not  for  sorrow  that  I 
wept,  but  for  I  cannot  rightly  tell  what.  And  she 
took  his  hand  and  looked  fondly  upon  him. 

But  presently  she  looked  on  his  hand,  and  said  : 
And  now  meseemeth  that  we  twain  are  grown  to  be 
such  close  friends  that  I  may  ask  thee  what  I  will, 
and  thou  be  neither  angry,  nor  wonder  thereat. 
I  see  on  thy  finger  here  the  ring  that  I  brought  with 
me  from  the  Isle  of  Increase,  and  which  thereafter 
thou  hadst  of  me  when  I  gave  thee  back  also  the 
shoon  which  were  lent  unto  me.  Tell  me  how 
thou  hadst  it  back  from  Atra,  as  I  suppose  thou 
gavest  it  unto  her.  But  how  now  !  art  thou  angry  ? 
for  I  see  the  blood  come  up  in  thy  face.  Nay, 
beloved,  said  he,  I  am  not  angry,  but  whenso  I 
hear  of  Atra,  or  think  of  her  closely,  shame  comes 
on  me  and  confusion,  and  maybe  fear.  But  now 
will  I  answer  thee.  For  even  in  those  hours  which 
we  wore  on  the  Isle  of  the  Young  and  the  Old, 
when  all  we  should  have  been  so  happy  tocrether, 
she  divined  somewhat  of  my  case,  or  indeed,  why 
do  I  not  say  it  out,  all  thereof.  And  she  spake 
to  me  such  words  (for  she  is  both  tender  and  wise 


THE    TALE    OF    THE    GUEST'S    ENDING     ;^S3 

and  strong  of  heart)  that  I  cowered  before  her  and 
her  grief  and  pain;  and  she  gave  me  back  the  said 
ring,  which  forsooth  I  gave  to  her  in  the  Sending 
Boat  in  the  first  hour  that  the  Isle  of  Increase  lay 
astern  of  us.  And  I  wear  it  now  as  a  token  of 
my  grief  for  her  grief.  See  now,  love,  since  I  have 
answered  thee  this  question  without  anger  or  amaze, 
thou  needest  not  fear  to  ask  me  any  other  ;  for  this 
of  all  things  lies  closest  to  my  heart. 

Birdalone  drooped  her  head,  and  she  spake  in 
a  low  voice  :  Lo  now  !  the  shadow  of  parting  and 
the  shadow  of  death  could  not  come  between  our 
present  joy  ;  but  this  shadow  of  the  third  one 
Cometh  between  us  and  is  present  between  us. 
Woe's  me !  how  little  did  I  think  of  this  when  thou 
wert  away  and  I  was  sick  of  longing  for  the  sight 
of  thee,  and  deemed  that  that  would  heal  it  all. 

He  spake  not,  but  took  her  hand  and  held  it; 
and  presently  she  looked  up  again  and  said  :  Thou 
art  good,  and  wilt  not  be  angry  if  I  ask  thee  some- 
thing else  ;  this  it  is :  Why  wert  thou  so  grim  with 
me  that  other  day  when  ye  found  me  in  that  evil 
plight  in  tow  of  the  Red  Tyrant,  so  that  I  deemed 
that  thou  of  all  others  hadst  cast  me  off?  That 
was  worse  to  me  than  the  witch's  stripes,  and  I 
kept  thinking  to  myself:  How  simple  was  my 
trouble  once,  and  now  how  tangled  and  weary  ! 

Then  he  might  not  refrain  him,  but  threw  him- 
self upon  her,  and  clipped  her  and  kissed  her  all 
he  might,  and  she  felt  all  the  sweetness  of  love, 
and  lacked  nought  of  kindness  and  love  to  him. 
And  thereafter  they  sat  still  awhile,  and  he  said, 


354     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

as  if  her  question  had  but  that  moment  left  her  Hps  : 
This,  forsooth,  was  the  cause  that  I  looked  grim  on 
thee  :  first,  that  from  the  time  I  first  saw  thee  and 
heard  thy  tale,  and  of  thy  deeds,  I  had  deemed 
thee  wise  above  the  wisdom  of  women.  But  this 
going  forth  of  thee  to  the  Black  Valley,  whereof 
came  the  slaying  of  Baudoin,  seemed  unto  me  a 
mere  folly,  till  again  I  had  heard  thy  tale  of  that 
also;  and  then  the  tale  and  thy  speech  overcame 
me.  But  again,  though  I  was  grieved  and  dis- 
appointed hereat,  belike  that  had  passed  from  me 
speedily,  but  then  there  was  this  also  which  would 
not  let  my  soul  rest,  to  wit,  that  I  feared  concerning 
that  slain  knight  whose  head  the  Red  One  had 
hung  about  thy  neck ;  for  how  else,  methought, 
might  he  have  been  so  wroth  with  him  and  thee  ; 
and  meseemed,  moreover,  that  thou  wert  kind  in 
thine  heart  to  the  dead  man,  even  when  we  were 
come  to  thee ;  and  then,  seest  thou,  my  desire  for 
thee  and  the  trouble  of  Baudoin's  slaying,  and  the 
black  trouble  aforesaid.  Lo  now,  I  have  told  thee 
this.     When  wilt  thou  cease  to  be  angry  with  me  ? 

She  said  :  I  ceased  to  be  grieved  with  thine  anger 
when  thine  anger  died  ;  yet  strange,  meseemeth,  that 
thou  shouldst  trust  me  so  little  when  thou  lovest 
me  so  much  ! 

And  she  leaned  against  him  and  caressed  him 
gently,  and  again  was  he  at  point  to  take  her  in 
his  arms,  when  lo  !  the  sound  of  men  coming  unto 
the  screen  of  the  hall ;  so  then  those  two  stood  up 
and  went  to  meet  them,  and  there  was  the  speech 
of  their  sundering  done.  Yet  belike  for  a  little 
while  both  those  twain  were  happy. 


CHAPTER  XII.  THE  KNIGHTS  AND 
THEIR  FELLOWS  BETAKE  THEM 
TO  THE  ASSAULTING  OF  THE  RED 
HOLD. 

ON  the  morrow,  when  the  day  was  yet  young, 
the  knights  were  ready  for  departure,  and 
in  the  very  gate  they  bade  farewell  to  the 
ladies,  who  kissed  them  kindly  one  and  all,  and 
Viridis  wept  sore  ;  and  Atra  constrained  herself  to 
do  even  as  the  others  did ;  but  pale  she  was  and 
quaking  when  she  kissed  Arthur  and  watched  him 
get  a-horseback. 

But  the  knights  bade  their  ladies  be  of  good 
cheer,  for  that  they  would  send  them  tidings  of 
how  they  sped  every  seven  days  at  least,  whereas 
it  was  no  long  way  thence  to  the  Red  Hold,  save 
there  were  battle  on  the  road,  and  they  deemed 
their  host  which  should  beset  the  Hold  would  be 
enough  to  clear  all  the  ways  behind  it.  For  that 
same  cause  withal  they  had  Sir  Aymeris  with  them, 
nor  left  a  many  men  behind  them,  and  they  under 
the  rule  of  three  squires,  whereof  two  were  but 
young,  and  the  third,  who  was  made  the  captain 
of  the  castle,  was  an  old  and  wise  man  of  war,  who 
had  to  name  Geoffrey  of  Lea.  There,  withal,  was 
the  priest  Sir  Leonard,  who  went  about  now  much 
hushed  and  abashed,  and  seemed  to  fear  to  give  a 
word  to  Birdalone  ;  albeit  she  deemed  of  him  that 
his  thoughts  of  her  were  the  same  as  erst  they  had 
been. 

So  now  when  the  knights  were  departed,  and  all 


SS^     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

the  host  was  gone  out  of  sight,  it  was  heavy  time 
indeed  in  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  till  they  should 
hear  tidings  of  them  again.  Both  Aurea  and  Atra 
kept  much  to  themselves,  and  did  I  know  not  what 
to  wear  away  the  time ;  for  now  it  was  not  to  be 
looked  for  that  they  should  venture  out-a-gates. 
But  as  for  Viridis,  she  waxed  of  better  cheer  after 
a  while,  but  whatever  betid  she  would  not  sunder 
herself  from  Birdalone  ;  nay,  not  for  an  hour ;  and 
Birdalone  took  all  her  kindness  kindly,  though 
forsooth  it  was  somewhat  of  a  pain  unto  her;  it 
shall  be  told  wherefore  ere  long. 

Withal,  as  if  to  wear  the  time,  Birdalone  betook 
her  diligently  to  her  needlework,  and  fell  to  the 
cunningest  of  broidery ;  so  that  Viridis  and  the 
others  wondered  at  her,  for  when  they  were  done 
it  seemed  indeed  that  the  flowers  and  creatures  and 
knots  had  grown  of  themselves  upon  the  cloth, 
such  wondrous  work  it  was. 

Moreover,  to  his  great  joy,  the  very  first  day  of 
the  departure  of  the  host  she  called  Sir  Leonard 
unto  her,  and  prayed  to  go  on  again  with  the 
learning  her  fair  scribe-craft ;  and  therein  also  was 
she  diligent  hours  of  every  day  ;  and  Viridis  would 
sit  beside  her  wondering  at  the  deftness  of  her 
fingers,  and  crying  out  for  joy  as  the  page  grew 
fair  and  well-learned  under  them. 

Thus  wore  a  week,  and  at  the  end  thereof  came 
a  messenger  from  the  host  and  told  how  they  had 
come  before  the  Red  Hold  and  had  summoned 
them  thereof  to  yield,  which  they  had  utterly  de- 
nied to  do,  but  defied  the  host ;  wherefore  the 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S   ENDING     357 

host  had  now  beset  the  Hold,  and  more  folk  were 
daily  flocking  unto  them  ;  but  that  the  said  Hold 
would  be  hard  to  win  by  plain  assault,  whereas  it 
was  both  strong  and  well-manned  ;  but  few  of  the 
host  had  been  slain  or  hurt  as  yet,  and  of  the  chief- 
tains not  one. 

Right  glad  were  they  of  the  castle  because  of 
these  tidings ;  though,  forsooth,  the  men-at-arms 
knew  well  enough  that  the  time  would  soon  come 
when  some  fierce  assault  would  be  made,  and  then, 
forsooth,  would  be  sore  peril  of  life  and  limb  unto 
the  chieftains. 


CHAPTER  XIII.  BIRDALONE  BE- 
THINKS HER  TO  FULFIL  THE 
PROMISE    MADE    UNTO    ATRA. 

AGAIN  wore  a  week,  and  once  more  came 
the  messenger,  and  did  them  of  the  castle 
to  wit  that  there  had  been  nought  more 
done  at  the  Red  Hold,  save  skirmishing  at  the 
barriers,  wherein  few  were  hurt  on  either  side  ;  and 
also  that  the  engines  for  battering  the  walls  were 
now  well-nigh  all  dight,  and  they  would  begin  to 
play  upon  the  Hold,  and  in  especial  one  which 
hight  Wall-wolf,  which  had  been  set  up  by  the 
crafts  of  Greenford. 

This  tidings  also  was  deemed  good  by  all,  save 
it  might  be  by  Atra,  who,  as  Birdalone  deemed, 
pined  and  fretted  herself  at  the  delay,  and  would 
fain  that,  one  way  or  other,  all  were  over.  Atra 
spake  but  little  to  Birdalone,  but  watched  her 
closely  now ;  oft  would  she  gaze  on  her  wistfully, 
as  if  she  would  that  Birdalone  would  speak  unto 
her ;  and  Birdalone  noted  that,  but  she  might  not 
pluck  up  heart  thereto. 

Wore  a  third  week,  and  again  came  the  mes- 
senger, and  told  how  three  days  ago,  whenas  Wall- 
wolf  had  sorely  battered  one  of  the  great  towers 
which  hight  the  Poison-jar,  and  overthrown  a  pan 
of  the  wall  there  beside,  they  had  tried  an  assault 
on  the  breach,  and  hard  had  been  the  battle  there, 
and  in  the  end,  after  fierce  give  and  take,  they  of 
the  Hold  had  done  so  valiantly  that  they  had  thrust 
back  the  assailants,  and  that  in  the  hottest  brunt 


THE    TALE    OF   THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     359 

the  Black  Squire  had  been  hurt  m  the  shoulder  by 
a  spear-thrust,  but  not  very  grievously  ;  but  withal 
that  he  sent,  in  so  many  words,  forbidding  the 
ladies  to  make  any  account  of  so  small  a  matter. 
And,  quoth  the  sergeant,  most  like  my  lord  will 
wear  his  armour  in  four  days'  time  ;  also  now  we 
have  reared  another  great  slinger,  which  we  call 
Stone-fretter,  and  soon,  without  doubt,  we  shall  be 
standing  victorious  within  that  den  of  thieves. 

Now  though  these  tidings  were  not  so  altogether 
ill,  yet  were  those  ladies  sore  troubled  thereby,  and 
especially  Atra,  who  swooned  outright  when  she 
had  heard  the  last  word  thereof 

As  for  Birdalone,  she  made  as  little  semblance 
of  her  trouble  as  she  might,  but  when  all  was  quiet 
again  she  went  to  find  Viridis,  and  brought  her  to 
her  chamber  and  spake  to  her,  saying  :  Viridis,  my 
sister,  thou  hast  been  piteous  kind  unto  me  from 
the  first  minute  that  thou  sawest  me  naked  and 
helpless,  and  fleeing  from  evil  unto  worse  evil ; 
nowise  mightest  thou  have  done  better  by  me  hadst 
thou  been  verily  my  sister  of  blood ;  and  I  know 
it  that  thou  wouldst  be  loth  to  part  from  me. 

Viridis  wept  and  said  :  Why  dost  thou  speak  of 
parting  from  me,  when  thou  knowest  itwould  break 
my  heart? 

Said  Birdalone :  To  say  it  as  short  as  may  be, 
because  the  parting  must  now  come  to  pass.  Viri- 
dis waxed  pale  and  then  red,  and  she  stamped  her 
foot  and  said  :  It  is  unkind  of  thee  to  grieve  me 
thus,  and  thou  doest  wrong  herein. 

Hearken,    dear    sister,    said    Birdalone :    thou 


360     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

knowest,  for  thou  thyself  wast  the  first  to  tell  me 
thereof,  that  I  am  the  supplanter  in  our  fellowship, 
and  that  I  have  undone  Atra's  hope.     This  I  did 
not  of  mine  own  will,  but  it  came  unto  me  ;  yet  of 
mine  own  will  I  can  do  the  best  I  may  to  amend 
it ;  and  this  is  the  best,  that  I  depart  hence  before 
the  Red  Hold  is  taken  and  my  lords  come  back ; 
for  if  they  come  back  and  I  see  my  lord  Arthur, 
so  fair  and  beauteous  as  he  is,  before  me,  never  shall 
I  be  able  to  go  away  from  him.     And  lo  thou,  I 
have  promised  Atra  by  all  the  kindness  she  did  me 
when  we  were  come  to  the  Wailing  Tower,  and  I 
naked  and  quaking  and  half-dead  with  terror,  that 
if  occasion  served  I  would  do  my  utmost  to  help 
her,  even  if  it  were  to  my  own  grief     Now  be- 
hold this  that  now  is,  is  the  occasion,  and  there 
will  not  be  another  ;  for  when  my  love  comes  home 
hither  and  beholdeth  me,  think  thou  how  all  the 
desire  which  has  been  gathering  in  his  heart  this 
while  will  blossom  and  break  forth  toward  me  ;  and 
mayhappen  he  will  make  but  little  semblance  of  it 
before  other  folk,  for  proud  and  high  of  heart  is 
he  ;  but  he  will  seek  occasion  to  find  me  alone,  and 
then  shall  I  be  with  him  as  the  lark  in  the  talons 
of  the  sparrow-hawk,  and  he  will  do  his  pleasure  of 
me,  and  that  with  all  the  good-will  of  my  heart. 
And  then  shall  I  be  forsworn  to  Atra,  and  she  will 
hate  me,  as  now  she  doth  not,  and  then  is  all  the 
fellowship  riven,  and  that  by  my  deed. 

Yet  was  Viridis  wrath,  and  she  said  :  Meseemeth 
this  is  fool's  talk.  Will  not  the  fellowship  be  all  the 
more  riven  if  thou  depart  and  we  see  thee  no  more? 


THE   TALE    OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     361 

O  nay,  said  Birdalone  ;  for  when  I  am  gone  thy 
love  shall  be  no  less  for  me,  though  as  now  thou 
art  angry;  and  Atra  will  love  me  for  that  I  shall 
have  held  to  my  promise  to  mine  own  scathe  ;  and 
thy  man  and  Aurea  will  lay  it  to  me  that  I  have 
done  valiantly  and  knightly.  And  Arthur,  how 
can  he  choose  but  love  me ;  and  maybe  we  shall 
yet  meet  again. 

And  therewithal  she  did  at  last  bow  down  her 
head  and  fall  to  weeping,  and  Viridis  was  moved 
by  her  tears  and  fell  to  kissing  and  caressing  her. 

After  a  little  Birdalone  lifted  up  her  head  and 
spake  again  :  Moreover,  how  can  I  dare  to  abide 
him  ?  didst  thou  not  see  how  grim  he  was  to  me 
when  they  delivered  me  and  brought  me  back  ? 
and  he  with  his  own  lips  told  me  so  much,  that  it 
was  because  he  doubted  that  I  had  done  amiss ; 
and  now  if  I  do  amiss  again,  even  if  it  be  at  his 
bidding,  will  it  not  be  so  that  he  will  speedily 
weary  of  me,  and  curse  me  and  cast  me  off? 
What  sayest  thou,  Viridis  mine  ? 

What  is  to  say,  said  Viridis,  save  that  thou  hast 
broken  my  heart .?  But  thou  mayst  heal  it  if  thou 
wilt  take  thy  words  back,  and  tell  me  that  thou 
wilt  not  sunder  thee  from  us. 

But  Birdalone  brake  out  weeping  and  lament- 
ing aloud,  and  she  cried  out :  Nay,  nay,  it  may 
not  be  ;  I  must  depart,  and  Atra  hath  smitten  me 
amidst  of  my  friends.  And  Viridis  knew  not  what 
to  say  or  to  do. 

At  last  came  Birdalone  to  herself  again,  and  she 
looked  sweetly  on  Viridis  and  smiled  on  her  from 


362     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

out  her  tears,  and  said  :  Thou  seest,  sister,  how 
little  a  loss  thou  wilt  have  of  me,  a  mere  wild 
woman.  And  now  nought  availeth  either  me  or 
thee  but  I  must  begone,  and  that  speedily.  Let 
it  be  to-morrow  then.  And  when  the  messenger 
comes  at  the  end  of  this  week,  send  word  by  him 
of  what  I  have  done  ;  and  look  thou  to  it  but  both 
our  lords  will  praise  me  for  the  deed. 

Said  Viridis  :  But  whither  wilt  thou,  or  what 
wilt  thou  do  ?  To  Greenford  first,  said  Birdalone, 
and  after  whither  the  Good  Lord  shall  lead  me  ; 
and  as  for  what  I  will  do,  I  am  now  deft  in  two 
crafts,  script  and  broidery  to  wit ;  and,  whereso- 
ever I  be,  folk  shall  pay  me  to  work  herein  for 
them,  whereby  I  shall  earn  my  bread.  Hearken 
also,  my  sister,  canst  thou  give  me  any  deal  of 
money  .'*  for  though  I  wot  little  of  such  matters, 
yet  I  wot  that  I  shall  need  the  same.  And  I  ask 
this  whereas,  as  e'en  now  I  said,  I  deem  our  lords 
shall  praise  my  deed,  and  that,  therefore,  they 
would  not  that  I  should  depart  hence  as  an  out- 
cast, wherefore  they  shall  not  begrudge  it  to  me. 
Moreover,  for  the  same  cause  I  would  thee  speak 
to  the  old  squire  Geoffrey  of  Lea,  and  tell  him  that 
I  have  an  errand  to  Greenford,  and  crave  of  him 
that  he  lend  me  one  of  the  two  younglings,  Arnold 
or  Anselm,  and  two  or  three  men-at-arms  to  bring 
me  safely  thither;  since  now,  forsooth,  I  need  no 
more  adventures  on  the  road. 

She  smiled  as  she  spake;  and  now  all  the  pas- 
sion of  anguish  seemed  to  have  left  her  for  that 
while  ;  but  Viridis  cast  her  arms  about  her  neck 


THE   TALE   OF    THE    QUEST'S    ENDING     ^6^ 

and  wept  upon  her  bosom,  and  said  :  Woe's  me  ! 
for  I  see  that  thou  wilt  go  whatsoever  I  may  say 
or  do  ;  I  strove  to  be  angry  with  thee,  but  I  might 
not,  and  now  I  see  that  thou  constrainest  me  as  thou 
dost  all  else.  I  will  go  now  straightway  and  do 
thine  errand. 

Thus  then  they  parted  for  that  time;  but  it  was 
not  till  the  day  after  the  morrow  that  Birdalone 
was  alboun.  Viridis  told  of  her  departure  both 
to  Aurea  and  Atra  ;  and  Aurea  lamented  it,  but 
would  not  do  aught  to  stay  her  ;  for  she  was  waxen 
weary  and  Hstless  since  the  death  of  her  man. 
As  for  Atra,  she  spake  but  little  concerning  it,  but 
to  Viridis  praised  Birdalone's  valiance  and  kind- 
ness. Yet  unto  herself  she  said  :  Verily  she  un- 
derstood my  word  that  I  spake  to  her  about  the 
occasion  of  her  helping.  Yet  woe's  me  !  for  she 
shall  carry  his  love  with  her  whithersoever  she 
wendeth ;  and  a  happy  woman  is  she. 

But  when  Geoffrey  the  squire  knew  that  the 
ladies,  all  three,  were  at  one  with  Birdalone  as  to 
her  departure,  he  doubted  nothing,  but  bade 
Arnold,  his  mate,  take  four  good  men  with  him, 
and  bring  the  Lady  Birdalone  unto  Greenford  and 
do  her  bidding  there.  Albeit,  he  deemed  no  less 
but  they  would  bring  her  back  again. 


CHAPTER  XIV.     BIRDALONE  LEAVES 
THE  CASTLE    OF   THE    QUEST. 

ON  the  morrow  morn,  then,  Birdalone  spake 
farewell  both  to  Aurea  and  Atra ;  but  as 
for  Viridis,  she  sent  her  word  that  she  had 
no  heart  thereto,  and  yet  she  sent  her  a  word  of 
comfort,  to  wit,  that  she  deemed  that  they  would 
one  day  meet  again.  Aurea,  in  her  parting  words, 
part  praised  her,  part  chid  her  ;  saying  that  she 
did  well  and  kindly  and  valiantly,  as  her  wont 
was.  Yet,  said  she,  when  all  is  said,  thou  mightest 
have  abided  this  tangle  and  trouble,  which  at  the 
worst  had  not  been  so  evil  as  death  between  us. 
Yea,  sister,  said  Birdalone,  but  might  not  death 
have  come  of  my  abiding  ? 

As  she  spake,  in  came  Atra,  with  her  head  some- 
what drooped,  meek  and  humble,  her  cheeks  red, 
her  hands  trembling ;  and  she  said  :  Wilt  thou 
take  now  my  word  of  farewell  and  blessing,  and  the 
kiss  of  peace  betwixt  us,  and  bear  away  the  mem- 
ory of  our  kindness  together  ? 

Birdalone  stood  up  proud  and  straight,  and  was 
somewhat  pale  as  she  suffered  Atra  to  kiss  her 
cheeks  and  mouth,  and  said  :  Now  hast  thou  for- 
given me  that  weird  dragged  me  in  betwixt  thy  love 
and  thy  goodhap  ;  and  I  have  forgiven  thee  that  I 
am  led  away  by  weird  into  the  waste  and  the  wil- 
derness of  love.  Farewell.  Therewith  she  went  her 
way  to  the  gate,  and  the  others  followed  her  not. 

Without  abode  her  Arnold  and  the  four  men- 
at-arms,  and  her  palfrey  and  a  sumpter-horse  bear- 


THE   TALE   OF   THE   QUEST'S    ENDING     36^ 

Ing  two  goodly  coffers,  wherein  Viridis  had  let  load 
raiment  and  other  havings  for  her  ;  and  Arnold 
came  up  to  her  smiling,  and  said  :  My  lady  Viridis 
hath  given  me  a  pouch  wherein  is  money  to  bear 
for  thee  to  Greenford  and  hand  over  to  thee  there 
when  we  be  safe  ;  and  she  hath  bidden  me  to  be  in 
all  wise  obedient  unto  thee,  lady,  which  needed  not, 
whereas  now  and  from  henceforth  am  I  by  mine 
own  will  thy  very  servant  to  do  thy  pleasure  always 
and  everywhere. 

She  thanked  him  and  smiled  on  him  kindly,  so 
that  his  heart  beat  fast  for  joy  and  love  of  her  ;  and 
therewith  she  gat  into  the  saddle  and  they  rode 
their  ways  together,  and  Birdalone  looked  back 
never  till  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  was  shut  from 
their  eyes  by  the  nesses  of  the  little  hills. 

Here  ends  the  Fifth  Part  of  the  Water  of 
the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  The  Tale 
of  the  Quest's  Ending,  and  begins  the  Sixth 
Part  of  the  said  tale,  which  is  called  The 
Days  of  Absence. 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  SIXTH  PART:  THE  DAYS 
OF  ABSENCE. 

CHAPTER  I.  BIRDALONE  RIDES  TO 
GREENFORD  AND  THERE  TAKES 
LEAVE  OF  ARNOLD  AND  HIS  MEN. 

ON  the  road  to  Greenford  nought  befell  to 
tell  of;  they  came  thither  when  the  sun 
was  at  point  to  set,  for  they  had  ridden 
diligently  all  day. 

As  they  rode  the  streets  of  the  good  town,  they 
noted  of  them,  that  though  it  was  evening  where- 
in folk,  do  much  disport  them  abroad,  there  were 
women  and  children  enough  in  the  streets  or  stand- 
ing at  their  doors,  but  of  carles  very  few,  and  they 
for  the  more  part  grey-heads. 

Now  did  Arnold  bring  Birdalone  to  the  town 
hall,  wherein  yet  sat  the  deputy  of  the  burgrave,who 
himself  was  in  the  leaguer  at  the  Red  Hold;  this 
man,  who  was  old  and  wise  and  nothing  feeble  of 
body,  made  much  of  Birdalone  and  her  folk,  and 
was  glad  of  them  when  he  knew  that  they  had  the 
seal  and  let-pass  of  Geoffrey  of  Lea  ;  wherefore  he 
gave  them  to  eat  and  drink,  and  lodged  them  in 
his  own  house,  and  made  them  the  best  of  cheer. 

But  betimes  on  the  morrow  did  Birdalone  send 
back  Arnold  and  the  four  men-at-arms,  with  no 
tale  but  that  such  was  her  will ;  and  bidding  fare- 
well to  the  said  Arnold,  she  suffered  him  to  kiss 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  367 

her  hands,  and  gave  him  a  ring  from  off  her  finger, 
so  that  he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 

So  soon  as  she  saw  him  and  his  men  well  on  the 
road,  she  went  to  the  old  man,  the  vice-ruler  of  the 
town,  who  was  of  the  aldermen  thereof,  and  did  him 
to  wit  that  she  would  wage  two  or  three  carles  who 
could  deal  with  horses  and  beasts,  and  withal  handle 
weapons  if  need  were,  to  be  both  as  servants  and 
guards  for  her,  as  she  had  errands  in  that  country- 
side, and  belike  might  well  have  to  go  from  town 
to  town  thereabout.  He  took  her  asking  kindly, 
but  said  it  was  none  so  easy  to  find  men  who  for 
any  wage  would  fare  forth  of  Green  ford  at  that 
stour,  whereas  well-nigh  all  their  fighting-men  were 
lying  before  the  Red  Hold  as  now.  Howsoever, 
ere  noontide  he  brought  before  her  a  man  of  over 
threescore,  but  yet  way  worthy,  and  two  stout  young 
men,  his  sons,  and  told  her  that  these  men  were 
trusty  and  would  go  with  her  to  the  world's  end 
if  need  were. 

She  took  these  men  readily,  and  agreed  with  them 
for  a  good  wage  ;  and  whereas  each  one  had  bow 
and  arrows  and  short  sword,  she  had  but  to  buy 
for  them  jacks,  sallets,  and  bucklers,  and  they  were 
well  armed  as  for  their  condition.  Withal  she  bought 
them  three  good  horses  and  another  sumpter-horse; 
which  last  was  loaded  with  sundry  wares  that  she 
deemed  that  she  needed,  and  with  victual.  Then 
she  took  leave  of  the  alderman,  thanking  him  much 
for  his  good-will,  and  so  departed  from  Greenford 
at  all  adventure,  when  the  day  was  yet  young. 

The  alderman  had  asked  her  whither  away,  and 


368     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

she  had  told  him  that  she  was  boun  for  Mostwyke 
first,  and  thereafter  for  ShifFord-on-the-Strand ; 
whereas  she  had  heard  talk  of  these  two  towns  as 
being  on  one  and  the  same  highway,  and  Mostwyke 
about  a  score  of  miles  from  Greenford  ;  but  when 
she  was  well  out-a-gates  she  came  to  a  little  road 
on  the  right  hand  which  turned  clean  away  from 
Mostwyke,  and  she  took  the  said  road  ;  and  when 
she  had  followed  it  some  three  miles,  she  asked  the 
old  carle  whither  it  led.  He  looked  on  her  and 
smiled  somewhat,  and  she  on  him  in  turn  ;  and  she 
said  :  Wonder  not,  my  friend,  that  I  am  not  clear 
about  my  ways,  for  I  shall  tell  the  sooth  that  I  am 
a  damsel  adventurous,  and  am  but  seeking  some 
place  where  I  may  dwell  and  earn  my  livelihood  till 
better  days  come;  and  this  is  the  whole  truth,  and 
thou  shalt  know  it  at  once,  to  wit,  that  I  am  indeed 
fleeing,  and  were  fain  to  hide  the  footsteps  of  me, 
and  I  bid  you  three  to  help  me  therein.  But  ye 
must  know  that  I  am  fleeing,  not  from  my  foes,  but 
from  my  friends  ;  and,  if  ye  will,  as  we  go  by  the 
way,  I  will  tell  you  all  the  story  of  me,  and  we  will 
be  friends  while  we  are  together,  yea,  and  there- 
after if  it  may  be. 

Now  she  said  this  because  she  had  looked  care- 
fully on  these  men,  and  herseemed  that  they  were 
good  men  and  true,  and  not  dull  of  wit.  Forsooth 
the  old  man,  who  hight  Gerard  of  the  Clee,  was  no 
weakling,  and  was  nought  loathly  to  look  on,  and 
his  two  sons  were  goodly  and  great  of  fashion,  clear- 
eyed,  and  well-carven  of  visage ;  they  hight  Robert 
and  Giles. 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  369 

Now  spake  old  Gerard  :  Lady,  I  thank  thee 
heartily  of  thy  much  grace  unto  me;  now  would 
I  get  off  my  nag  and  kneel  to  thee  in  the  high- 
way therefor,  but  that  I  see  that  thou  wert  fain 
to  make  as  much  way  as  may  be  to-day ;  where- 
fore, by  thy  leave,  I  will  tarry  my  homaging  till 
we  rest  our  horses  by  the  wayside.  She  laughed, 
and  praised  his  wisdom ;  and  the  young  men  looked 
on  her  and  worshipped  her  in  their  hearts.  For- 
sooth, the  fellowship  of  these  good  and  true  folk 
was  soft  and  sweet  to  her,  and  soothed  the  trouble 
of  her  spirit.  And  she  enforced  herself  to  talk  cheer- 
fully with  them,  and  asked  them  many  things,  and 
learned  much  of  them. 

But  now  went  on  Gerard  to  say:  Lady,  if  thou 
wilt  hide  thy  ways  from  whomsoever  it  may  be, 
thou  hast  happened  on  no  ill  way ;  for  though  this 
road  be  good  to  ride,  it  is  but  a  byway  through 
the  sheep-walks  that  folk  may  drive  their  wains 
hereby  in  the  wet  season  of  winter  and  spring;  and 
for  a  great  way  we  shall  come  to  but  little  save  the 
cots  of  the  sheep-carles ;  scarce  a  hamlet  or  two  for 
the  space  of  two  days'  riding  ;  and  on  the  third  day 
a  little  town,  hight  Upham,  where  are  but  few  folk 
save  at  the  midsummer  wool-fair,  which  is  now 
gone  by. 

Now  there  is  a  highway  cometh  into  this  road 
from  out  of  the  tilled  country  and  Appleham,  a 
good  town,  and  goeth  through  it  toward  the  tillage, 
and  the  City  of  the  Bridges  and  the  liberties  thereof; 
and  all  the  land  is  much  builded  and  plentiful ;  but, 
if  thou  wilt,  we  will  not  take  either  highway,  but 

24 


370     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

wend  over  the  downland  which  lieth  north-east  of 
Upham,  and  though  it  be  roadless,  yet  is  it  not 
ill-going,  and  I  know  it  well  and  its  watering- 
places,  little  dales  and  waters  therein  all  running 
north-east,  wherein  be  certain  little  thorps  here  and 
there,  which  shall  refresh  us  mightily.  Over  that 
downland  we  may  wend  a  four  days,  and  then  the 
land  will  swell  up  high,  and  from  the  end  of  that 
high  land  we  shall  behold  below  us  a  fair  land  of 
tillage,  well  watered  and  wooded,  and  much  builded ; 
and  in  the  midst  thereof  a  great  city  with  walls  and 
towers,  and  a  great  white  castle  and  a  minster,  and 
lovely  houses  a  many.  In  that  city  mayst  thou 
dwell  and  earn  thy  livelihood  if  thou  canst  do  aught 
of  crafts.  And  if  thou  mayst  not,  then  may  we 
find  somewhat  to  swink  at  for  a  wage,  and  so  main- 
tain thee  and  us.  But  the  said  city  is  called  the 
City  of  the  Five  Crafts,  and  the  land  round  about 
it  is  the  frank  thereof;  and  oftenest,  frank  and  city 
and  all,  it  is  called  the  Five  Crafts  all  simply.  Now 
what  sayest  thou  hereof,  my  lady  ? 

She  said  :  I  say  that  we  will  go  thither,  and  that 
I  thank  thee  and  thy  sons  of  thy  good-will,  and  so 
may  God  do  to  me  as  I  reward  you  well  therefor. 
But  tell  me,  good  Gerard,  how  it  is  that  thou  art 
so  willing  to  leave  kith  and  kin  to  follow  a  gangrel 
wife  along  the  ways  ?  Said  Gerard  :  Dame,  I  think 
that  the  face  and  body  of  thee  might  lead  any  man 
that  yet  had  manhood  in  him  to  follow  thee,  even 
if  he  left  house  and  all  to  go  with  thee.  But  as 
for  us,  we  have  no  longer  a  house  or  gear,  whereas 
they  of  the  Red  Hold  lifted  all  my  bestial,  and 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  371 

burned  my  house  and  all  that  was  therein  a  month 
ago.  Yea,  said  Birdalone,  and  how  befalleth  it,  then, 
that  ye  are  not  before  the  Red  Hold  to  avenge  thee? 
Dame,  said  he,  when  the  muster  was  I  was  deemed 
somewhat  over  old,  wherefore  the  sheriff  took  me 
not,  but  suffered  my  sons  also  to  abide  behind  to 
earn  a  living  for  me  ;  may  God  be  good  to  him  there- 
for, and  St.  Leonard  !  But  as  to  my  kindred,  I  must 
tell  thee  that  I  arn  not  kinned  hereabout,  but  in  a 
good  town  hight  Utterhay,  and  that  when  our  alder- 
man sent  for  me  to  bring  me  to  thee,  I  was  more 
than  half-minded  to  get  me  back  thither.  Now 
sooth  it  is  that  the  best  way  thither,  though  it  may 
be  indeed  the  safest  rather  than  the  shortest,  lies 
through  the  Five  Crafts  ;  for  the  road  goes  thence 
to  Utterhay  a  three  score  miles  or  so,  making  the 
longer  of  it,  as  it  skirteth  ever  some  way  off  a  peril- 
ous forest,  a  place  of  sore  dread  and  devilish,  which 
hight  Evilshaw,  on  the  edge  whereof  lieth  Utter- 
hay, a  m  erry  cheaping-stead  and  a  plenteous,  and  the 
home  of  my  kindred.  Wherefore  now  is  the  City 
of  the  Five  Crafts  handy  to  us  ;  because  when  thou 
hast  done  with  us,  as  I  hope  it  may  be  long  first, 
then  are  we  others  nigh  home,  and  may  all  simply 
wend  our  way  thither. 

Birdalone  thanked  him  again  full  heartily ;  but 
therewithal  as  they  rode  along  there  seemed  to  stir 
in  her  some  memory  of  the  earliest  of  her  days  in 
the  witch's  house,  and  she  began  to  have  a  longing 
to  betake  her  to  Utterhay  and  the  skirts  of  Evil- 
shaw. 


CHAPTER  II.  OF  BIRDALONE  AND 
HER  FELLOWSHIP,  THEIR  FARING 
OVER  THE  DOWNLAND. 

THUS  rode  they  along  and  loitered  not, 
though  they  talked  blithely  together ;  and 
Birdalone  wondered  to  herself  that  she 
might  so  much  as  hold  up  her  head  for  bitter 
thoughts  of  the  days  and  the  longings  but  late 
passed  away,  but  so  it  was,  that  it  was  only  now  and 
again  that  they  stung  her  into  despair  and  silence, 
and  for  the  most  part  she  hearkened  to  the  talk  of 
the  old  man  and  the  lads  about  the  days  of  Green- 
ford  and  the  alarms  of  lifting  and  unpeace,  and  the 
ways  of  the  chapmen  and  the  craftsmen. 

An  hour  after  noon  they  rested  in  a  little  dale  of 
the  downland  where  was  a  pool  and  three  thorn- 
bushes  thereby  ;  and  when  they  had  lighted  down, 
the  old  man  knelt  before  Birdalone  and  took  her 
hand,  and  swore  himself  her  man  to  do  her  will, 
whatso  it  were  ;  and  then  he  stood  up  and  bade  his 
sons  do  likewise  ;  so  they  two  knelt  before  her  in 
turn,  somewhat  shy  and  abashed,  for  all  that  they 
were  such  stout,  bold  fellows,  and  found  it  hard  to 
take  her  hand,  and  then  when  they  had  it  in  theirs, 
hard  to  let  it  go  again. 

A  score  of  miles  and  five  they  rode  that  day,  and 
had  no  roof  over  them  at  night  save  the  naked 
heaven,  but  to  Birdalone  that  was  but  little  scathe  : 
they  made  a  shift  to  have  some  fire  by  them,  and 
the  three  men  sat  long  about  it  that  even  while 
Birdalone  told  them  somewhat  of  her  life;  and  as 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  373 

she  told  of  the  House  under  the  Wood  and  the  Great 
Water,  Gerard  had  some  inkUng  of  whereabouts  it 
was ;  but  was  nought  so  sure,  because,  as  above-said 
in  this  tale,  seldom  did  any  from  the  world  of 
men  venture  in  Evilshaw,  or  know  of  the  Great 
Water  from  its  banks  that  gave  unto  the  forest. 
'  In  like  wise  they  rode  the  next  day,  and  came  at 
eventide  to  a  thorp  in  a  fair  little  dale  of  the  down- 
land,  and  there  they  guested  with  the  shepherd- folk, 
who  wondered  much  at  the  beauty  of  Birdalone,  so 
that  at  first  they  scarce  durst  venture  to  draw  nigh 
unto  her  until  Gerard  and  his  sons  had  had  some 
familiar  converse  with  them  ;  then  indeed  they  ex- 
ceeded in  kindness  toward  them,  in  their  rough  up- 
land fashion,  but  ever  found  it  hard  to  keep  their  eyes 
off  Birdalone,  and  that  the  more  after  they  had  heard 
the  full  sweetness  of  her  voice ;  whereas  she  sang 
to  them  certain  songs  which  she  had  learned  in  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  though  it  made  her  heart  sore  ; 
but  she  deemed  she  must  needs  pay  that  kindly 
folk  for  their  guestful  and  blithe  ways.  And  there- 
after they  sang  to  the  pipe  and  the  harp  their  own 
downland  songs  ;  and  this  she  found  strange,  that 
whereas  her  eyes  were  dry  when  she  was  singing 
the  songs  of  love  of  the  knighthood,the  wildness  ot 
the  shepherd-music  drew  the  tears  from  her,  would 
she,  would  she  not.  Homelike  and  dear  seemed 
the  green  willowy  dale  to  her,  and  in  the  night  ere 
she  slept,  and  she  lay  quiet  amidst  of  the  peaceful 
people,  she  could  not  choose  but  weep  again,  for 
pity  of  the  bitter-sweet  of  her  own  love,  and  for 
pity  of  the  wide  world  withal,  and  all  the  ways  of 
its  many  folk  that  lay  so  new  before  her. 


CHAPTER  III.  THEY  COME  TO  THE 
CITY  OF  THE  FIVE  CRAFTS,  AND  BIR- 
DALONE  MEETS  WITH  THE  POOR- 
WIFE. 

THEY  made  not  so  much  way  that  they  came 
to  the  Five  Crafts  on  the  fourth  day,  but  lay 
under  the  bare  heavens  in  a  dale  below  the 
big  swell  of  the  downland,  whereof  Gerard  spake. 
But  betimes  in  the  morning  Birdalone  arose  and 
stirred  up  her  men,  and  they  gat  to  horse,  and  rode 
the  hill  before  them  till  they  came  on  to  the  crest 
thereof.  Then  Birdalone  cried  aloud  with  joy  to 
see  the  lovely  land  before  her,  and  the  white  walls 
and  the  towers  of  the  great  city,  whereas  Greenford 
was  but  small  beside  it. 

So  they  rode  down  into  the  frank,  and  entered 
the  gates  of  the  city  a  little  after  noon,  and  again 
was  Birdalone  in  all  amaze  at  the  going  to  and  fro 
in  the  streets  and  the  thronging  of  the  markets,  and 
the  divers  folk,  as  chapmen  and  men-at-arms,  and 
craftsmen  and  lords,  who  used  the  said  city ; 
and  to  say  sooth,  somewhat  her  heart  sank  within 
her,  and  it  seemed  to  her  that  it  would  be  hard  and 
troublous  to  have  to  deal  with  so  much  folk,  and 
that  they  must  needs  go  past  her  on  the  right  hand 
and  the  left  without  heeding  her  life. 

Howsoever,  Gerard,  who  knew  the  city,  brought 
her  to  a  fair  hostel,  where  she  was  well  lodged,  she 
and  her  men.  Straightway,  then,  before  she  went 
out  into  the  streets  again,  she  fell  to  getting  to- 
gether what  she  had  of  fine  broidered  work  and  of 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  375 

fair  script,  and  to  finishing  what  she  had  unfinished. 
And  she  sent  forth  Gerard  and  his  sons  to  find  out 
where  was  the  market  for  such  goods,  and  if  she 
would  have  leave  to  sell  the  same  therein,  or  any- 
where in  the  town ;  and  Gerard  found  the  hall  of  the 
embroiderers,  and  therein  the  master  of  the  craft, 
and  he  received  the  carle  courteously  when  he  heard 
that  there  was  fine  work  come  to  town,  and  did  him 
to  wit  that  none  in  any  such  craft  might  have  free- 
dom of  the  market  save  by  leave  of  the  guild  of 
the  craft;  but,  said  he,  the  guilds  were  open-handed 
and  courteous,  and  were  nowise  wont  to  refuse  the 
said  leave,  were  the  work  good  and  true  ;  and  he 
bade  Gerard  withal  tell  his  mistress  that  she  were 
best  to  bring  samplings  of  her  work  to  the  Guild- 
hall so  soon  as  she  might.  So  the  very  next  day 
went  Birdalone  thither,  and  found  the  master  a 
well-looked  tall  man  of  some  five-and-forty  winters, 
who  looked  on  her  from  the  first  as  if  he  deemed 
it  were  no  ill  way  of  wearing  the  time.  To  this 
man  she  showed  her  work,  and  though  he  found  it 
not  easy  to  take  his  eyes  off  Birdalone  herself,  yet 
when  he  looked  at  her  handiwork,  he  found  it  bet- 
ter than  very  good,  and  he  said  to  her :  Damsel, 
here  is  what  will  be  sought  for  at  a  great  price  by 
the  great  lords  and  ladies  of  the  land,  and  the  rich 
burgesses,  and  especially  by  the  high  prelates  ;  and 
so  much  of  it  as  thou  hast  a  mind  to  do  is  so  much 
coined  gold  unto  thee ;  and  now  I  see  thee  what 
thou  art,  I  were  fain  that  thou  gathered  good  to 
thee.  But  as  diligent  as  thou  mayst  be,  thou  hast 
but  one  pair  of  hands,  wonderful  soothly,  and  yet 


376     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

but  one  pair.      He  broke  off  at  that  word,  for  he 
was  verily  staring  at  her  hands,  and  longing  to  see 
more  of  her  arms  than  the  wrists  only,  so  that  he 
scarce  knew  what  he  was  saying.     Then  he  turned 
red  and  said :   Soothly  I  wot  that  no  other  hands 
save  thine  may  do  such  needlework,  or  make  the 
draughts  for  them.     But  thou  wilt  need  women- 
servants  to  help  thee,  both  in  dighting  the  house 
for  thee  (for  this  big  old  carle  here  will  be  scarce 
meet  thereto)  and  as  apprentices  to  help  thee  about 
the  work  itself;  and  if  thou  wilt,  I  shall  seek  the 
best  ones  out  for  thee.    Moreover  I  must  tell  thee, 
that  though  I  know  for  sure  how  that  no  woman 
in  the  world  may  work  such  needlework  as  thine, 
yet  whiles  there  cometh  hither  a  woman  of  middle 
age,  a  woman  worn  by  troubles,  pious,  meek,  and 
kind  ;  and  by  St.  Lucia  !  now  I  look  on  thee  again, 
she  might  be  somewhat  like  unto  thee,  were  she 
young  and  fresh-looking  and  strong  as  thou  art. 
Now  this  woman  I  say,  and  thereat  I  marvel,  doeth 
needlework  that  is  somewhat  after  the  manner  of 
thine,  and  which  seemed  to  us  excellent  till  I  had 
seen  thine.     Good  livelihood  she  earneth  thereby, 
and  is  diligent  therein ;  but  she  hath  no  heart  to 
get  apprentices,  or  be  made  one  of  our  guild,  both 
of  which  were  lawful  to  her  as  to  thee,  lovely  dam- 
sel.    But  now  I  shall  counsel  her  to  be  made  of 
our  guild  along  with  thee,  if  thou  wilt  have  it  so, 
and  then  may  ye  both  have  three  apprentices  each, 
and  may  make  In  our  city  a  goodly  school,  so  that 
our  guild  shall  be  glorified  thereby,  for  there  will 
be  none  such  work  in  the  world.    How  sayest  thou  ? 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  377 

She  thanked  him  much,  and  yeasaid  him,  and 
thought  in  her  heart  that  such  work  which  would 
keep  her  hands  and  her  head  both  busy,  would 
solace  the  grief  of  her  heart,  and  wear  away  the 
time,  that  she  might  live  till  hope  might  perad- 
venture  arise  in  her. 

Then  said  the  master:  There  is  one  thing  else, 
that  is,  thy  dwelling-place;  and  if  thou  wilt  I  shall 
hire  thee  a  house  in  the  street  of  the  Broiderers, 
a  goodly  one :  sooth  to  say,  that  same  is  mine  own, 
so  thou  mayst  deem  that  I  tell  thee  hereof  to  mine 
own  gain ;  and  that  may  be  (and  he  reddened  there- 
with); but  there  is  this  in  it,  that  if  thou  lackest 
money  I  shall  let  thee  live  therein  without  price  till 
thou  shalt  have  earned  more  than  enough  to  pay  me. 

Birdalone  thanked  him  well,  but  she  did  him  to 
wit  that  she  was  nowise  penniless;  and  presently 
she  departed  well  pleased,  though  she  deemed  that 
the  said  master  was  well-nigh  more  friendly  than 
might  be  looked  for.  And  the  next  day  he  came 
to  her  in  the  hostelry,  and  without  more  ado  brought 
her  to  the  house  in  the  street  of  the  Broiderers,  and 
she  found  it  fair  and  well  plenished,  and  so  she  fell 
to  work  to  get  all  things  ready. 

Now  the  next  week  was  the  day  appointed  when 
she  should  be  received  into  the  broiderers'  guild, 
and  the  day  before  came  the  master  aforesaid  to  see 
Birdalone.  Sooth  to  say,  he  had  not  failed  to  come 
to  see  her  every  day,  on  one  pretence  or  another, 
since  the  first  day  they  had  met,  but  ever  he  did 
to  her  with  all  honour  and  simply.  But  on  this 
day  he  brought  with  him  the  woman  skilful  of  her 


378     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

hands,  to  show  her  unto  Birdalone,  who  received 
her  gladly,  and  thereafter  Master  Jacobus  left  them 
alone  together. 

The  said  woman  looked  worn  and  aged  indeed, 
but  was  not  of  more  than  five-and-forty  winters 
even  by  seeming,  after  the  first  look  at  her ;  she  was 
somewhat  tall  and  well-knit,  her  face  well  shapen, 
and  her  hair  yet  goodly.  There  was  a  kind  look 
in  the  eyes  of  her,  as  If  she  might  love  anyone  with 
whom  she  lived  that  would  be  kind  to  her.  Meek, 
or  rather  over-meek,  of  mien  she  was,  and  it  seemed 
of  her  that  she  had  been  sore  scared  and  oppressed 
one  while  or  another. 

So  when  Master  Jacobus  was  gone,  Birdalone 
set  her  down  on  the  settle  beside  her,  and  spake 
to  her  full  sweetly  and  kindly,  and  the  woman  spake 
little  in  turn  save  answering  simply  to  her  questions. 
Birdalone  asked  where  she  was  kinned,  and  she  an- 
swered :  In  Utterhay.  Then  said  Birdalone :  With- 
in these  last  few  days  I  have  heard  that  town  named 
twice  or  thrice,  and  never  before,  as  meseemeth; 
and  yet,  hearing  the  name  from  thy  mouth,  It  seem- 
eth  to  stir  something  in  me,  as  if  I  had  been  there 
one  time  and  longed  to  be  there  again.  Is  there 
aught  in  the  place  whereof  folk  tell  wide  about,  so 
that  I  might  have  heard  it  told  of  and  not  noted 
it  at  the  time  ?  Nay,  lady,  said  the  dame,  save  per- 
chance that  it  Is  on  the  verge  of  a  very  great  and 
very  evil  wood,  otherwise  it  was  once  a  merry  town 
and  of  much  resort  from  the  country-side. 

Birdalone  looked  on  her,  and  saw  that  the  tears 
were  coming  from  her  eyes  and  running  down  her 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  379 

cheeks  as  she  spake;  so  she  said  to  her:  Why  dost 
thou  weep,  mother?  Is  there  aught  I  may  do  to 
assuage  thy  grief?  Said  the  dame:  Thou  art  so 
kind  to  me,  and  thy  voice  is  so  dear  and  sweet, 
that  I  cannot  choose  but  weep.  Meseems  it  is  be- 
cause love  of  thee  hath  taken  mine  heart,  and  there- 
with is  blended  memory  of  past  sorrow  of  mine. 
Thou  askest  me  if  thou  mayest  do  aught  to  assuage 
my  grief;  dear  lady,  I  am  not  grieved  now,  that  has 
gone  by ;  nay,  now  I  am  more  than  not  grieved,  I  am 
made  happy,  because  I  am  with  thee.  But  since 
thou  art  so  debonair  with  me,  I  will  ask  thee  to  do 
somewhat  for  me;  and  that  is,  to  tell  me  of  thy  life 
gone  by  ;  I  mean,  sweet  young  damsel,  of  thy  life 
when  thou  wert  a  little  child. 

Then  Birdalone  kissed  her  and  said:  It  goes  to 
my  heart  that  thou  lovest  me;  for  soon  as  I  set 
eyes  on  thee  my  heart  went  out  to  thee;  and  now 
belike  we  shall  be  dear  friends;  and  that  is  a  thing 
that  shall  avail  me  much,  to  have  a  friend  who  is 
so  much  older  than  I,  so  that  nought  can  come 
between  us,  of  the  love  of  men  and  other  griefs. 
Yea,  now,  said  the  dame,  smiling  somewhat  sadly  ; 
now  do  I  see  the  water  standing  in  thine  eyes,  and 
thy  voice  quavers.  Is  it  so,  thou  lovely  kind  dam- 
sel, that  thou  hast  been  grieved  by  love  of  a  man? 
Who  then  may  prevail  in  love  if  thou  prevail  not? 
And  she  fell  to  fondling  Birdalone's  hand  ;  but 
Birdalone  said :  It  is  over-long  to  tell  of  all  my  life, 
mother,  though  I  be  so  young;  but  now  I  will  do 
as  thou  badest  me.  and  tell  thee  somewhat  of  my 
days  when  I  was  iittle. 


380     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

And  therewith  she  fell  to  telling  her  of  her  days 
in  the  House  under  the  Wood,  and  the  witch  and 
her  surliness  and  grimness,  and  of  her  love  of  the 
wild  things,  and  how  she  waxed  there.  And  she 
spake  a  long  while,  for  the  memory  of  those  days 
seemed  to  lead  her  along,  as  though  she  verily  were 
alive  now  in  them  ;  and  the  woman  sat  before  her, 
gazing  on  her  lovingly,  till  Birdalone  stayed  her 
tale  at  last  and  said :  Now  have  I  told  thee  more 
than  enough  of  a  simple  matter,  and  a  life  that  was 
as  that  of  a  wild  creature  of  the  woods.  Now  shalt 
thou,  mother,  tell  me  somewhat  of  thee,  and  what 
was  thy  grief  of  Utterhay  :  for  thou  shalt  find  that 
the  telling  thereof  shall  solace  thee.  Ah  !  so  think 
young  folk,  said  the  woman  sadly,  because  there 
are  many  days  left  for  them  to  hope  in.  But 
though  the  telling  of  my  sorrow  be  a  fresh  sorrow 
to  me,  yet  shalt  thou  hear  it.  It  is  but  of  the  loss 
of  my  babe ;  but  she  was  of  all  babes  the  fairest 
and  the  sweetest. 

Then  she  fell  to  telling  Birdalone  all  that  con- 
cerning the  witch  at  Utterhay  and  the  poor-wife 
that  ye  have  heard  in  the  beginning  of  this  book, 
until  the  time  when  she  left  the  house  to  buy  meat 
for  the  witch  ;  for  she  herself  was  the  said  poor- 
wife.  And  then  she  told  how  she  came  back  again 
and  found  her  guest  gone  and  the  child  withal ; 
and  though  she  had  wept  for  love  of  Birdalone, 
she  wept  not  at  telling  of  this  grief,  but  told  it  as 
a  tale  which  had  befallen  some  other  one.  And 
she  said  :  And  so  when  I  had  done  running  up 
and  down  like  a  wild  thing,  and  asking  of  the  neigh- 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  381 

hours  with  lack  of  hreath  and  fierceness  of  speech 
who  had  taken  my  child  away  from  me  ;  and  when 
I  had  gone  up  to  the  wood  and  even  some  way 
into  it,  and  when  I  had  wandered  up  and  down 
again,  and  night  was  falling,  I  came  back  at  last 
again  to  my  poor  house  so  weary  with  my  woe,  that 
I  scarce  knew  what  had  befallen  me.  And  there 
upon  the  board  lay  the  victual  and  drink  which  I 
had  brought,  and  the  money  which  the  witch  had 
given  unto  me  ;  and  despite  of  grief,  hunger  flamed 
up  in  me  at  the  sight,  and  I  threw  myself  on  to  it 
and  ate  and  drank,  and  so  came  to  myself,  that  is, 
to  my  grief  But  the  next  day  I  ran  about  hither 
and  thither,  and  wearied  folk  with  my  asking  and 
my  woe  ;  but  it  was  all  of  none  avail.  The  child  was 
gone  away  from  me.  There  is  little  more  to  tell 
of  me,  sweet  lady.  If  I  were  to  live,  needs  must 
I  take  the  poor  price  of  my  little  one,  to  wit,  the 
witch's  money,  and  deal  with  folk  for  my  liveli- 
hood; wherefore  I  bought  me  cloth  and  silks, 
having  now  the  wherewithal,  and  set  to  work  on 
broidery,  for  even  then  was  I  a  cunning  needle- 
woman. So  were  God  and  the  saints  good  to  me, 
and  inclined  the  folk  to  me,  that  they  were  good 
and  piteous,  and  I  lacked  not  work  nor  due  liveli- 
hood ;  but  after  a  while  I  wearied  of  Utterhay, 
where  my  dear  child  should  have  been  running 
about  before  my  feet ;  and  having  by  this  time 
gotten  a  little  money  together,  and  being  exceed- 
ing deft  in  my  craft,  I  came  on  hither  to  live,  and, 
praise  be  to  St.  Ursula  !  I  have  found  it  easy  to  live  : 
and  praise  be  to  All-hallows  withal  that  I   have 


382     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

found  thee,  who  art  so  kind  and  lovely  ;  and  thou 
by  seeming  of  the  very  age  my  child  should  be  if 
she  be  living :  or  how  old  art  thou,  dear  lady  ? 

Birdalone  laid  her  hand  on  her  breast,  and  she 
was  turned  pale,  but  she  said  in  a  low  voice  :  I 
deem  that  I  am  of  twenty  summers. 

Then  they  both  sat  silent,  till  Birdalone  might 
master  the  fluttering  of  her  heart,  and  she  said : 
Now  meseems  I  have  a  memory  even  earlier  than 
those  I  told  thee  erst.  A  woman  took  me  out  of 
a  basket  and  set  me  on  the  back  of  an  ass,  and  I 
looked  about,  and  I  was  in  a  grassy  lawn  of  the 
woods ;  and  I  saw  a  squirrel  run  up  a  tree-trunk 
before  me,  and  wind  round  the  tree  and  hide  him  ; 
and  then  I  stretched  out  my  hands  and  cried  out 
to  him  ;  and  then  came  the  woman  unto  me,  and 
gave  me  wood-strawberries  to  eat  out  of  her  hand. 

Brake  out  the  poor-wife  thereat,  pale  and  trem- 
bling :  Tell  me  now,  my  child,  hast  thou  any  mem- 
ory of  what  the  woman  was  who  set  thee  on  the  ass 
and  gave  thee  the  strawberries  ?  Birdalone  looked 
on  her,  and  scanned  her  face  closely,  and  then  shook 
her  head,  and  said  :  Nay,  it  was  not  thou,  mother. 
Nay,  surely  ;  nay,  surely,  said  the  woman ;  but 
think  again.  Said  Birdalone,  speaking  slowly  : 
Was  it  my  mistress  then  ?  She  was  a  tall  woman, 
somewhat  thin  and  bony,  with  goodly  red  hair  and 
white-skinned,  but  thin-lipped.  Quoth  the  poor- 
wife  :  No,  no  ;  it  is  of  no  use  ;  nought  such  was 
she.  Then  Birdalone  looked  up  and  said  eagerly  : 
Yea,  but  it  was  her  other  shape  belike:  therein 
was  she  a  tall  woman,  dark-haired,  hook-nosed, 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  383 

and  hawk-eyed,  as  if  of  thirty  summers ;  a  stark 
woman.  Hast  thou  seen  such  ?  dost  thou  re- 
member her  ? 

The  woman  sprang  up  and  cried  out,  and  was 
like  to  have  fallen,  but  Birdalone  arose  and  held 
her  in  her  arms  and  comforted  her,  and  set  her  in 
her  seat  again  and  knelt  before  her ;  and  presently 
tlie  poor-wife  came  to  herself  and  said  :  My  child, 
thou  sayest  do  I  remember  her ;  how  shall  I  ever 
forget  her  ?   she  was  the  thief  who  stole  my  child. 

Therewith  she  slid  from  off  her  seat,  and  knelt 
by  Birdalone,  and  stooped  low  down  on  the  floor 
Zii  if  the  tall  maiden  were  but  a  little  one,  and  she 
f«;ll  to  kissing  her  and  patting  her,  her  face  and  her 
hands,  and  all  about ;  and  said,  sobbing  and  yet 
smiling  :  Suffer  me  a  little,  my  child,  mine  own 
lovely  child  !  For  in  good  sooth  I  am  thy  mother, 
and  it  is  long  since  I  have  seen  thee  :  but  hearken, 
when  I  come  quite  to  myself  I  shall  pray  thee  not 
to  leave  me  yet  awhile,  and  I  shall  pray  thee  to 
love  me. 

Birdalone  clipped  and  kissed  her,  and  said  :  I 
love  thee  dearly,  and  never,  never  shall  I  leave  thee. 

Then  they  stood  up,  and  the  mother  took  Bird- 
alone by  the  shoulders,  and  held  her  a  little  aloof, 
and  devoured  her  with  her  eyes ;  and  she  said  : 
Yea,  thou  hast  grown  tall,  and  belike  wilt  grow  no 
taller  :  and  how  fair  and  lovely  thou  hast  grown  ; 
and  thou  that  wert  born  in  a  poor  man's  house  ! 
no  wonder  that  any  should  covet  thee.  And  I,  I 
wonder  if  ever  I  was  as  fair  as  thou  art ;  forsooth 
many  called  me  fair  for  a  little  while  ;  and  now  be- 


384     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

hold  me  !  Nay,  child  and  darling,  let  not  thy  face 
grow  downcast,  for  now  shall  I  know  nought  more 
of  fear  and  grief ;  and  is  it  not  like  that  I  shall 
grow  fairer  of  flesh,  and  shapelier,  in  the  happy 
days  we  shall  dwell  together?  And  therewith  she 
took  her  to  her  arms,  and  it  seemed  as  if  she  might 
never  have  enough  of  clipping  and  embracing  her  ; 
and  she  would  look  at  Birdalone's  hands  and  her 
feet  and  her  arms,  and  stroke  them  and  caress  them  ; 
and  she  wondered  at  her  body,  as  if  she  had  been 
a  young  mother  eaten  up  with  the  love  of  her  first- 
born. And  as  for  Birdalone,  she  was  as  glad  of  her 
mother  as  might  be  ;  and  yet  in  her  heart  she  won- 
dered if  perchance  one  of  the  fellowship  might  stray 
that  way,  and  be  partaker  in  her  joy  of  this  new- 
found dear  friend  ;  and  she  said,  might  it  be  Viri- 
dis  ;  but  in  her  inmost  heart,  though  she  told  it 
not  to  herself,  she  longed  that  the  Black  Squire 
might  find  her  out  at  last. 


CHAPTER  IV.  OF  THE  LOVE  OF  GER- 
ARD'S SONS  AND  OF  JACOBUS  FOR 
BIRDALONE. 

NOW  dwelt  Birdalone  in  rest  and  peace  when 
she  had  been  taken  into  the  guild  along 
with  her  mother,  and  they  had  taken  the 
due  apprentices  to  them  ;  and  they  began  to  gather 
much  of  goods  to  them,  for  of  fine  broidery  there 
was  little  done  in  the  Five  Crafts,  and  none  at  all 
that  could  be  put  beside  their  work,  either  for 
beauty  of  the  draught  of  it,  or  for  skill  of  handi- 
work. She  declared  unto  all  folk  how  that  the 
poor-wife  (who  had  to  name  Audrey)  was  her  very 
mother,  from  whom  she  had  been  stolen  in  her 
youngest  days  ;  but  she  told  none  any  tale  of  how 
she  was  stolen.  And  the  twain  dwelt  together  in 
the  greatest  loving-kindness  ;  and  it  was  with  Au- 
drey as  she  had  forecast,  that  now  her  days  were 
happy,  and  she  living  in  all  ease  and  content,  that 
the  goodliness  of  her  youth  came  back  to  her,  and 
she  became  a  fair  woman  as  for  her  years ;  and 
therewith  it  grew  to  be  clear  that  the  two  were  so 
much  alike  one  to  the  other,  that  all  might  see  that 
they  were  mother  and  daughter. 

Gerard  and  his  two  sons  she  maintained  yet  as 
her  men  ;  and  not  only  were  they  of  much  use  to 
her  in  fetching  and  carrying,  but  also  true  it  is  that 
her  beauty  was  so  manifest,  that  she  whiles  needed 
a  stout  lad  weaponed  at  her  back  when  she  was  in 
the  streets  or  amidst  the  throng  of  the  market ; 
and  many  were  they,  and  whiles  of  the  highest,  who 


386     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

craved  love  of  her,  some  with  honour,  and  some 
with  lack  of  it. 

Of  these,  forsooth,  were  but  two  that  anywise 
troubled  her ;  and  the  most  trouble  was  this,  that 
she  might  not  fail  to  see  that  the  love  of  her  had 
entered  into  the  hearts  of  the  two  Gerardsons, 
Robert  and  Giles  ;  so  that  times  were  when  she 
deemed  she  must  even  send  them  away,  but  when 
it  came  to  the  point  she  had  not  the  heart  thereto; 
though  none  other  remedy  there  seemed,  so  sorely 
as  their  souls  were  wounded  by  longing  for  her.  It 
is  not  to  be  said  that  they  ever  spake  to  her  thereof, 
or  wittingly  wearied  her  with  signs  of  love ;  but 
they  could  not  so  easily  cover  it  up  but  that  it  was 
ever  before  her  eyes.  But  she  suffered  it  all  for 
friendship's  sake  and  for  their  true  service,  and  in 
all  friendliness  did  what  she  might  to  solace  their 
grief.  Forsooth  so  good  and  true  she  found  that 
father-kind,  and  the  young  men  so  goodly  and 
kind,  that  she  said  to  herself,  had  she  not  another 
man  lying  in  her  heart,  she  might  well  have  chosen 
one  of  those  twain  for  her  very  speech-friend  and 
true  lover. 

The  second  wooer  that  troubled  her  was  the 
master.  Jacobus,  who,  when  but  three  months  were 
worn  of  her  dwelling  in  her  house,  did  all  openly 
crave  her  love  and  offer  her  marriage,  he  being  a 
man  unwedded.  Sore  was  her  heart  that  she  must 
needs  gainsay  him,  so  kind  and  courteous  as  he  had 
been  to  her  at  their  first  coming  together  ;  though 
this  indeed  is  sooth,  that  straightway,  so  soon  as 
he  saw  her,  he  fell  into  the  captivity  of  her  love. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  387 

Howsoever,  gainsay  him  she  needs  must,  and  he 
took  the  naysay  so  hardly  that  he  was  scarce  like 
a  man  before  her,  and  wept  and  prayed  and  la- 
mented many  times  over,  till  she  wearied  of  it,  and 
well-nigh  fell  to  loathing  him.  So  that  it  came  to 
this  at  last,  that  one  day  she  spake  to  him  and  said 
that  she  might  no  longer  bear  it,  but  must  seek 
another  house  and  leave  his.  There  then  was  the 
to-do,  for  he  fell  on  his  knees  before  her,  and  kissed 
her  feet,  would  she,  would  she  not,  and  cried  out  in 
his  grief,  till  at  last  for  pure  weariness  of  his  folly 
she  gave  way  unto  him,  and  said  that  she  would 
still  abide  there  ;  whereon  he  rose  up  from  her  and 
went  away  with  all  the  grief  run  off  him  for  that 
time,  and  as  glad  a  man  to  look  on  as  you  might  see 
on  a  summer's  day. 

But  the  next  morning  he  came  unto  her  again, 
and  she  thinking  all  was  begun  afresh,  made  him 
no  glad  countenance  ;  but  he  stood  up  before  her 
and  spake  friendly,  and  said  how  that  she  was  in 
the  right  of  it,  and  that  if  they  both  dwelt  in  one 
house  together  they  were  like  to  have  but  a  weary 
time  of  it,  both  she  and  he.  But,  said  he,  I  will 
not  that  thou  shouldst  depart  out  of  this  house,  for 
a  goodly  one  it  is,  and  full  meet  for  thee ;  it  is  for 
me  to  depart,  and  not  for  thee.  I  tell  thee,  forsooth, 
that  I  had  from  the  first  meant  this  house  as  a  gift 
from  me  to  thee.  And  therewith  he  drew  from  his 
pouch  a  scroll,  which  was  a  deed  of  gift  of  the 
said  house,  duly  sealed  and  attested,  and  he  gave 
it  into  her  hands  ;  but  she  was  sore  moved  there- 
at, and  at  the  demeanour  of  him  that  morning, 
and  she  let  the  scroll  fall  to  the  floor  and  wept  for 


388     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

pity  of  him,  and  reached  out  both  her  hands,  and 
he  kissed  them,  and  then  her  Hps  also,  and  sithence 
he  sat  down  beside  her.  But  she  said  :  Alas  !  that 
thou  wilt  give  me  what  I  may  not  take,  and  wouldst 
have  of  me  what  I  may  not  give. 

But  now  he  waxed  hotter,  and  said  :  This  once 
I  command  thee  to  do  my  will,  and  take  my  gift. 
It  will  be  nought  to  my  gain  if  thou  take  it  not ; 
for  I  may  not  live  in  this  house  when  thou  art  gone 
from  it ;  and  I  swear  by  All-hallows  that  I  will  not 
let  any  have  it  to  hire,  nor  will  I  sell  it,  since  thou 
hast  made  it  holy  by  dwelling  therein. 

Yet  was  she  sore  moved  by  his  generous  fashion, 
and  she  said  :  I  will  take  thy  gift  then,  and  live 
here  in  honour  of  thee  and  thy  friendship  ;  for  well 
I  wot  thou  hadst  no  mind  to  buy  me  with  thy  gift. 

So  she  spake,  and  he  stood  up  stark  and  stern, 
and  so  departed,  and  kissed  her  not  again  ;  though 
meseems  she  would  have  suffered  him  had  he  offered 
it.  Nay,  belike  had  he  at  that  moment  pressed  his 
wooing  somewhat  masterfully,  it  is  not  so  sure  but 
she  might  have  yeasaid  it,  and  suffered  him  to  wed 
her  and  lead  her  to  bed  ;  though  it  would  have  gone 
ill  both  with  him  and  with  her  thereafter. 

Thenceforth  dwelt  Birdalone  with  her  mother 
and  her  maidens  and  her  men  in  that  house,  and 
it  became  famous  in  the  Five  Crafts  because  of  her 
beauty  and  her  wisdom,  which  minished  not,  but 
waxed  day  by  day ;  but  therewithal  as  the  time  wore, 
waxed  her  longing  and  sadness.  But  all  this  she 
hid  in  her  own  heart,  and  was  debonair  to  all  about 
her,  and  so  good  to  poor  folk  that  none  had  a  word 
save  of  blessing  on  her  beauty  and  her  wisdom. 


CHAPTER  V.  OF  THE  DEATH  OF 
AUDREY,  MOTHER  TO  BIRDALONE. 
SHE  IS  WARNED  IN  A  DREAM  TO 
SEEK  THE  BLACK  SOUIRE,  AND  IS 
MINDED  TO  DEPARfTHE  CITY  OF 
THE  FIVE  CRAFTS,  AND  SEEK  AGAIN 
THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEST. 

THUS  dwelt  Birdalone  in  the  Five  Crafts  in 
such  rest  and  peace  as  her  heart  would  let 
her ;  and  dear  and  good  friends  she  had 
about  her;  her  mother  first,  whose  love  and  desire 
for  love  of  her  made  all  things  soft  and  dear  unto 
her.  Gerard  and  the  Gerardsons  were  next,  who 
were  ever  faithful  and  true  unto  her,  and  deft  both 
of  hand  and  of  mind,  so  that  they  wrought  many- 
things  for  her  avail.  Then  came  the  master.  Jaco- 
bus, who  held  himself  unwedded  for  her  sake,  and 
though  he  no  longer  dwelt  in  the  same  house  with 
her,  might  scarce  endure  to  miss  the  sight  of  her 
for  two  days  running:  a  dear  friend  she  deemed 
him,  as  forsooth  he  was,  though  whiles  he  tor- 
mented and  wearied  her,  and  belike  had  wearied 
her  more,  but  for  the  sorrow  which  lay  on  her  own 
heart,  whereof  it  came  that  she  might  not  think  of 
any  man  as  of  one  who  might  be  a  lover,  and  so 
felt  safe  even  with  so  kind  a  friend  and  so  stubborn 
in  his  love  as  was  this  one.  Moreover  he  never 
again  craved  love  of  her  in  so  many  words,  but 
only  in  his  goings  and  comings  so  did,  that  it  was 
clear  how  he  had  her,  and  the  love  of  her,  ever  in 
his  heart. 


390     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Wore  thus  a  five  years ;  and  then  came  a  sick- 
ness on  the  city,  and  many  died  thereof;  and  the 
said  sickness  entered  into  Birdalone's  house,  and 
slew  Audrey  her  mother,  but  spared  all  else  therein. 
Thereby  at  the  first  was  Birdalone  so  overwhelmed 
that  she  might  heed  nought,  neither  her  craft  nor 
her  friends,  nor  the  davs  to  come  on  the  earth  for 
her.  And  moreover  when  she  came  more  to  her- 
self, which  was  not  for  many  days,  and  asked  why 
her  friend  Jacobus  had  not  been  to  see  her  the  last 
days,  she  was  told  that  he  also  was  dead  of  the 
pestilence;  and  she  sorrowed  for  him  sorely,  for 
she  loved  him  much,  though  not  in  the  way  he 
would. 

And  now  did  the  city  and  land  of  the  Five 
Crafts  begin  to  look  unfriendly  to  Birdalone,  and 
she  fell  to  thinking  that  she  must  needs  depart 
thence,  as  she  well  might  do,  whereas  she  had  foison 
of  goods  :  and  at  first  it  was  in  her  mind  to  go  with 
Gerard  and  his  sons  unto  Utterhay  ;  but  then  she 
deemed  the  thought  of  her  mother,  and  how  she 
would  be  ever  thinking  of  the  loss  and  the  gain, 
and  the  loss  once  more  stood  in  the  wav  ;  and  she 
turned  one  thing  and  another  over  in  her  mind,  and 
might  not  face  it. 

On  a  night,  as  she  slept,  came  to  her  dreams  of 
her  days  in  the  House  under  the  Wood  (as  very 
seldom  betid),  and  the  witch-wife  was  speaking  to 
her  in  friendly  fashion  (as  for  her)  and  blaming  her 
for  fleeing  away,  and  was  taunting  her  with  the 
failure  of  her  love,  and  therewith  telling  her  how 
fair  a  man  and  lovesome  was  the  Black  Squire,  and 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  39 1 

what  a  loss  she  had  of  him;  and  Birdalone  was 
hearkening  and  weeping  for  tenderness'  sake,  while 
the  witch  was  unto  her  neither  fearful  nor  irksome, 
and  forsooth  nought  save  a  mouthpiece  for  words 
that  both  grieved  Birdalone  and  yet  were  an  eager 
pleasure  unto  her.  But  in  the  midst  thereof,  and 
ere  the  dream  had  time  to  change,  Birdalone  awoke, 
and  it  was  an  early  morning  of  later  spring,  and  the 
sky  was  clear  blue  and  the  sun  shining  bright,  and 
the  birds  singing  in  the  garden  of  the  house,  and  in 
the  street  was  the  sound  of  the  early  market-folk 
passing  through  the  street  with  their  wares;  and  all 
was  fresh  and  lovely. 

She  awoke  sobbing,  and  the  pillow  was  wet  with 
her  tears,  and  yet  she  felt  as  if  something  strange 
and  joyous  were  going  to  betide  her,  and  forjoy  of 
the  love  of  life  the  heart  beat  fast  in  her  bosom. 

She  arose  all  darling  naked  as  she  was,  and  went 
to  the  window  and  looked  out  on  the  beauty  of 
the  spring,  while  the  sound  of  the  market-wains 
brought  to  her  mind  the  thought  of  the  meads,  and 
the  streams  of  the  river,  and  the  woodsides  beyond 
the  city  ;  and  she  fell  a-longing  for  them,  as  a  while 
she  knelt  on  the  window-seat,  half  dreaming  and 
asleep  again,  till  the  sun  came  round  that  way, 
and  its  beams  fell  upon  her  bosom  and  her  arms ; 
and  she  stood  up  and  looked  on  the  fairness  of  her 
body,  and  a  great  desire  took  hold  of  her  heart  that 
it  might  be  loved  as  it  deserved  by  him  whom  she 
desired.  And  thus  she  stood  there  till  she  became 
ashamed,  and  hastened  to  do  on  her  raiment;  but 
even  as  she  was  about  it,  it  came  upon  her  that  what 


392     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

she  had  will  to  do  was  to  seek  to  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest,  and  find  out  where  was  her  love  if  there  he 
were  not,  and  so  to  seek  him  the  world  over  till 
she  found  him.  And  such  a  flood  of  joy  possessed 
her  when  she  thought  this,  and  so  eager  to  begone 
she  was,  that  she  deemed  every  minute  wasted  till 
she  were  on  the  road. 

Nevertheless,  in  a  while,  when  her  mind  was 
steadied,  she  knew  that  she  had  somewhat  to  do  ere 
she  might  be  gone,  and  that  here,  as  oft,  it  would 
be  more  haste  less  speed. 

So  she  abode  a  little,  and  then  came  into  her  hall 
duly  dight,  and  found  Gerard  and  his  sons  there 
to  serve  her;  and  she  brake  her  fast,  and  bade  them 
sit  by  her  at  table,  as  oft  she  did;  and  she  spake  to 
them  of  this  and  that,  and  Gerard  answered  lightly 
again;  but  the  two  Gerardsons  looked  at  one  an- 
other, as  though  they  would  speak  and  ask  a  ques- 
tion from  time  to  time,  but  forbore  because  they 
durst  not.  But  Gerard  looked  on  them,  and  deemed 
he  wotted  what  was  in  their  minds;  so  at  last  he 
spake  :  Our  lady,  both  I,  and  meseemeth  my  sons 
also,  deem  that  there  is  some  tidings  toward  which 
are  great  unto  thee  ;  for  thine  eyes  sparkle,  and  the 
red  burns  in  thy  cheeks,  and  thine  hands  may  not 
be  quiet,  nor  thy  feet  abide  in  one  place ;  where- 
fore I  see  that  thou  hast  something  in  thy  mind 
which  strives  to  be  forth  of  it.  Now  thou  wilt 
pardon  us,  our  dear  lady,  that  we  ask  concerning 
this,  because  it  is  in  our  love  for  thee  that  we  speak, 
lest  there  be  some  change  toward  which  shall  be  a 
grief  to  some  of  us. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  393 

My  men,  said  Birdalone,  flushing  red,  sooth  it 
is  that  there  is  a  change  at  hand,  and  I  shall  tell 
you  straightway  what  it  is.  Years  ago  I  told  you 
that  I  was  fleeing  from  my  friends;  now  the  change 
hath  betid  that  I  would  seek  them  again ;  and  needs 
must  I  leave  the  Five  Crafts  behind  to  do  so.  And 
moreover  there  is  this  ill  word  to  be  said,  which 
I  will  say  at  once,  to  wit,  that  when  I  am  but  a 
little  way  gone  from  the  Five  Crafts  I  must  wend 
the  other  deal  of  my  journey  birdalone,  as  my 
name  is. 

All  those  three  sat  silent  and  aghast  at  that  word, 
and  the  young  men  grew  pale  ;  but  after  a  while 
spake  Gerard  :  Our  lady  most  well-beloved,  this 
word  which  thou  hast  spoken,  to  wit,  that  thou 
needest  us  no  longer,  I  have  looked  to  hear  any 
time  this  five  years;  and  praise  be  to  the  saints  that 
it  hath  come  late  and  not  soon.  Now  there  is  no 
more  to  be  said  but  that  thou  tell  us  what  is  thy 
will  that  we  should  do. 

Birdalone  hung  her  head  awhile  for  sorrow  of 
sundering  from  these  men ;  then  she  looked  up  and 
said:  It  seemeth,  my  friends,  as  if  ye  deem  I  have 
done  you  a  wrong  in  sundering  our  fellowship  ; 
but  all  I  may  say  hereon  is  to  pray  you  to  pardon 
me,  that  I  needs  must  go  alone  on  my  quest.  And 
now  what  I  would  have  you  do,  is  first  of  all  to 
fetch  hither  a  notary  and  scrivener,  that  he  may 
draw  up  a  deed  of  gift  to  you,  Gerard  and  Gerard- 
sons,  of  this  house  and  all  that  is  therein,  saving 
what  money  I  may  need  for  my  journey,  and  gifts 
such  as  I  shall  bid  you  to  be  given  to  my  work- 


394     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

women.  Ye  must  needs  yeasay  this,  or  ye  are  for- 
sworn of  your  behest  to  do  my  will.  But  further- 
more, I  will  have  you  to  let  the  workwomen  of 
mine  (and  the  head  one  ruling)  to  hire  the  afore- 
said house,  if  so  they  will ;  for  now  are  they  skilled, 
and  may  well  earn  good  livelihood  by  the  work. 
But  the  next  work  is  simple ;  it  is  to  furnish  for 
me  the  array  of  a  young  man,  with  such  armour 
as  I  may  easily  bear,  to  dight  me  for  my  road. 
Forsooth  ye  wot  that  not  unseldom  do  women  use 
the  custom  of  going  arrayed  like  men,  when  they 
would  journey  with  hidden  head  ;  and  ye  may 
happen  upon  such  gear  as  hath  been  made  for  such 
a  woman  rather  than  any  man;  but  thou  shalt  get 
me  also  a  short  bow  and  a  quiver  of  arrows,  for 
verily  these  be  my  proper  weapons  that  I  can  deal 
with  deftly.  Now  my  last  command  is  that,  when 
all  is  done,  maybe  to-morrow,  or  maybe  the  next 
day,  ye  bring  me  out  of  the  city  and  the  frank  of 
the  Five  Crafts,  and  bring  me  somewhat  on  my 
way  over  the  downs,  for  loth  am  I  to  part  from  you 
ere  needs  must.  Then  they  knelt  before  her  and 
kissed  her  hands,  and  they  were  full  of  grief;  but 
they  saw  that  so  it  had  to  be. 

Thereafter  Gerard  spake  with  his  sons  apart, 
and  in  a  while  came  to  Birdalone,  and  said  :  Our 
lady,  we  will  do  your  will  in  all  wise;  but  we  shall 
tell  thee,  that  the  Five  Crafts  will  look  but  strange 
to  us  when  thou  art  gone,  and  that  we  have  a  mind 
to  betake  us  to  Utterhay  and  the  land  of  our  kin- 
dred. Wherefore  we  pray  thee  to  give  this  house 
that  hath  been  so  dear  to  us  unto  thy  workwoman 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  395 

and  her  mates ;  for  we  need  it  not,  nor  the  hire 
thereof,  but  shall  do  well  enough  with  what  money 
or  good  thou  mayst  give  us.  Is  this  according  to 
thy  will,  or  have  I  spoken  rashly  ? 

She  said:  Ye  are  good  and  ungreedy,  and  I  bless 
you  for  it ;  be  it  as  ye  will  ;  and  this  the  more,  as 
I  were  fain  that  ye  go  to  Utterhay  ;  for  whiles  I 
have  deemed  that  I  myself  am  drawn  thitherward, 
wherefore  it  may  be  that  we  shall  meet  again  in 
that  place. 

And  when  she  had  so  spoken,  she  might  not  re- 
frain her  tears  ;  and  the  Gerardsons  turned  away, 
for  they  were  ashamed,  both  that  they  should  see 
her  weep,  or  she  them.  But  at  last  she  called  to 
them  and  said  :  Now  make  we  the  speediest  end 
we  may  of  this,  for  sorry  work  is  the  tarrying  of 
farewell ;  so  I  pray  you,  my  friends,  to  go  about  the 
work  I  have  bidden  you. 

So  all  was  done  as  she  would,  and  the  day  after 
the  morrow  was  Birdalone  abiding  the  coming  of 
Gerard  and  his  sons  with  the  horses  ;  and  despite 
of  the  sundering  of  friends  and  the  perils  that  be- 
like lay  before  her,  the  world  seemed  fair  to  her, 
and  life  beginning  anew.  And  she  made  no  doubt 
that  she  would  soon  be  at  the  Castle  of  the  Quest, 
and  there  find  all  things  much  as  she  had  left  them  ; 
and  there  at  least  would  be  the  welcome  of  her  dear 
friend  Viridis. 


CHAPTER  VI.  OF  THE  SUNDERING 
OF  BIRDALONE  FROM  GERARD  AND 
HIS   SONS. 

PRESENTLY  were  the  horses  come  with  Ger- 
ard and  his  sons,  and  Birdalone  gat  to  horse 
amongst  them.  She  was  armed  in  a  light 
hauberk,  and  over  it  a  long  and  loose  surcoat  that 
came  down  beneath  the  knee  of  her ;  and  a  sallet 
she  had  upon  her  head,  wide  but  light,  so  that  not 
very  much  of  her  face  was  to  be  seen.  She  had 
made  up  her  mind  to  this  tale  upon  the  road,  when 
she  was  among  folk,  that  she  was  under  a  vow  not 
to  do  off  her  helm  for  a  seven  days'  space.  Withal 
she  had  covered  up  the  lovely  shapeliness  of  her 
legs  with  long  boots  of  deer-leather,  and  her  sur- 
coat was  wide-sleeved ;  she  was  well  hidden,  and 
whereas  she  was  a  tall  and  strong  woman,  she  might 
well  pass  for  a  young  man,  slender  and  fair-faced. 
She  was  girt  with  a  good  sword,  and  Gerard  had 
gotten  her  a  strong  horseman's  bow  and  a  quiver 
full  of  arrows,  wherewith,  as  aforesaid,  she  knew 
well  how  to  deal ;  wherefore  she  was  by  no  means 
without  defence. 

So  they  went  their  ways  through  the  streets  and 
out-a-gates ;  and  it  must  be  said,  that  were  not  Bird- 
alone's  thoughts  turned  toward  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest,  and  what  she  should  meet  there,  her  heart 
had  been  somewhat  sore  at  leaving  the  city  which 
had  cherished  her  so  well  these  years  past ;  nay,  as 
it  was,  the  shadow  of  the  southern  gate,  as  she  past 
thereunder,  smote  somewhat  cold  upon  her,  and  she 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  397 

silently  bade  farewell  to  the  City  of  the  Five  Crafts 
with  some  sorrow,  though  with  no  fear. 

Forth  they  rode  then  through  the  frank  and  up 
on  to  the  shepherd  country,  and  whereas  their  horses 
were  of  the  best,  and  they  had  no  sumpter-beast 
with  them  till  they  came  to  Upham,  where  they 
must  needs  have  victual,  they  made  but  five  days 
of  it  to  the  place  where  the  road  turned  aside  from 
the  country  of  Mostwyke,  There  then  they  drew 
rein,  and  Birdalone  lighted  down  from  her  horse, 
and  they  all,  and  they  lay  upon  the  grass  and  ate 
and  drank  together. 

But  when  they  were  done,  spake  Birdalone  and 
said :  Dear  friends,  this  is  the  hour  and  the  place 
when  we  must  needs  part ;  for  ye  shall  go  back 
again  to  Five  Crafts,  and  do  what  I  have  bidden 
of  you,  and  do  your  will,  and  wend  your  ways  with 
your  livelihood  unto  Utterhay.  But  as  for  me,  I 
must  go  my  ways  first  unto  Greenford,  and  thence 
to  seek  my  friends  from  whom  erst  I  was  fleeing 
when  ye  first  became  my  friends.  Now  perchance 
ye  will  say  that  I  have  taken  you  up  in  my  need, 
and  cast  you  aside  at  my  pleasure  ;  but  I  may  only 
say  that  there  be  at  present  two  deals  of  my  life, 
and  of  one  of  them  have  ye  been  partakers,  and  of 
the  other  ye  may  not  be.  Forsooth  that  is  a  grief 
unto  me,  as  I  suppose  unto  you  is  it  a  greater  one. 
But  unto  me  also  were  it  heavier  but  that  my  heart 
tells  me  it  shall  not  ever  be  so  ;  for  as  I  said  to  you 
some  days  agone,  I  have  a  hope  that  we  shall  yet 
meet  again,  be  it  in  Utterhay  or  in  some  other  place. 
And  now  I  pray  you  to  pardon  me  wherein  I  may 


398     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

have  done  amiss  unto  you,  and  begrudge  it  not 
that  there  be  others,  who  indeed  were  first-comers 
in  regard  to  you,  and  whom  I  love  better  than  you  ; 
for  of  your  truth  and  your  good-will  and  loving- 
kindness  will  I  bear  witness  wheresoever  I  may  be. 

Then  spake  Gerard  :  Do  ye  speak,  my  sons  ;  for 
I  have  no  grudge  against  her,  nor  aught  to  bewail 
me  as  to  her,  save,  it  may  be,  that  I  am  now  so  well 
on  in  years  that  it  may  well  befall  that  I  shall  not 
live  till  the  time  of  the  meeting  in  Utterhay.  But 
I  will  pray  thee  this,  dear  lady,  that  if  thou  come 
to  the  place  where  I  lie  dead  thou  wilt  kiss  my 
burial-stone,  and  sing  due  masses  for  me.  Nay, 
she  said,  but  this  is  the  worst  shall  betide  betwixt 
us. 

Then  spake  Robert  Gerardson  :  I  am  not  deft  of 
speech,  but  this  parting  makes  me  bold  to  say  this  : 
that  from  the  time  when  first  I  set  eyes  on  thee  I 
have  loved  thee  in  such  wise  that  never  mayst  thou 
love  me  as  much  as  I  love  thee,  if  thou  hast  any- 
where, as  I  deem  thou  hast,  a  lover  of  thy  body, 
whom  thou  lovest.  Now  I  have  seen  that  for  a 
long  while  thou  hast  known  this,  and  hast  ever 
because  of  it  been  as  meek  and  kind  with  me  as  thou 
mightest  be.  And  this  hath  partly  grieved  me  the 
more,  because  it  hath  eked  my  longing  for  thee ; 
and  yet  it  hath  comforted  me  the  more,  because  it 
hath  made  me  deem  better  of  thee,  and  deem  thee 
worthier  of  worship  and  holier  ;  therefore  have  thou 
all  my  blessing  for  it.  And  now  I  know  that  thou 
sunderest  from  us  that  thou  mayst  go  seek  thy  very 
bodily  lover  ;  and  I  say,  that  if  the  sundering  had 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  399 

been  for  any  lighter  cause,  grieved  at  heart  should 
I  have  been  ;  but  since  it  is  even  so,  once  more  I 
bless  thee,  and  ever  shall  I  be  happy  in  the  thought 
of  thee;  and  if  ever  we  meet  again,  still  shalt  thou 
find  me  as  now  I  am  in  heart  and  in  soul. 

She  turned  to  him,  not  dry-eyed,  and  said :  I 
know  that  what  thou  sayest  is  sooth  ;  and  thou  hast 
guessed  right  as  to  my  goings  ;  and  I  take  thy 
blessing  with  love  and  joy. 

Then  were  they  silent;  but  Giles  Gerardson  was 
struggling  with  words,  for  he  was  slow  to  speech ; 
at  last  he  said  :  I  say  much  as  saith  my  brother  :  but 
see  thou,  our  lady,  how  ill  it  had  gone  if  thou  hadst 
loved  one  of  us  with  an  equal  love ;  woe  worth  the 
strife  then  !  But  now  I  will  crave  this  of  thee,  that 
thou  kiss  me  on  the  lips,  now  whenas  we  part ;  and 
again,  that  thou  wilt  do  as  much  when  first  we  meet 
again  hereafter.  And  I  tell  thee  right  out,  that  if 
thou  gainsay  this,  I  shall  deem  it  unfriendly  in  thee, 
and  that  those  lovely  words  which  thou  didst  speak 
e'en  now  were  but  words  alone,  and  that  thou  art 
not  as  true  as  I  have  deemed  thee. 

She  laughed  amidst  her  tears,  and  said  :  Dear  lad, 
doom  me  not  till  I  have  been  found  guilty  !  I 
shall  nowise  naysay  thee  this,  for  I  love  thee,  and 
now  and  ever  shalt  thou  be  unto  me  as  a  brother, 
thou  and  Robert  also  ;  for  even  so  have  ye  done  by 
me.  But  thou  wottest,  dear  lad,  that  whiles  and 
again  must  sister  sunder  from  brother,  and  even  so 
it  has  to  be  now. 

Then  they  sat  silent  all  four  ;  and  thereafter  Bird- 
alone  arose  and  did  off  her  sallet,  and  kissed  and 


400     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

embraced  Gerard  and  his  sons,  and  bade  them  fare- 
well, and  she  and  the  young  men  wept.  Then  she 
armed  herself  and  gat  to  horse,  and  went  her  ways 
towards  Greenford,  having  nought  with  her  but  the 
raiment  and  arms  that  her  body  bore,  and  her  horse, 
and  some  gold  pieces  and  gems  in  a  little  pouch. 
So  rode  she ;  and  the  others  turned  back  sadly 
toward  the  Five  Crafts. 


CHAPTER  VII.  BIRDALONE  COMETH 
TO  GREENFORD,  AND  HEARS  OF  THE 
WASTING  OF  THE  CASTLE  OF  THE 
QUEST. 

NOW  came  Birdalone  riding  into  Green- 
ford  an  hour  before  sunset  on  a  day  of 
the  latter  end  of  May  ;  and  she  had  no 
doubt  but  to  go  straight  to  the  hostelry,  and  that 
the  less  as  she  had  not  abided  there  before,  as  hath 
been  told.  To  them  that  served  her  she  told  the 
tale  of  her  vow,  that  she  might  not  do  off  her  sallet 
that  seven  days  ;  and  some  trowed  her,  and  some 
deemed  her  a  woman,  but  whereas  she  seemed 
by  her  raiment  to  be  of  condition  none  meddled 
with  her.  Moreover,  as  she  told  her  intent  to 
ride  on  betimes  in  the  morning,  it  mattered  the 
less  unto  them  :  withal  she  gave  out  that  she  came 
from  foreign  parts,  as  sooth  it  was. 

In  the  evening  she  sat  in  the  hall,  and  with  her 
were  three  chapmen  travelling  with  their  wares,  and 
two  good  men  of  the  town  sitting  ;  and  they  were 
talkingtogether,  and  were  courteous  and  blithe,  and 
amidst  their  talk  they  threw  many  a  glance  at  the 
slim  and  fair  young  squire,  as  Birdalone  seemed, 
and  were  fain  to  speak  unto  him,  but  refrained 
them  for  courtesy's  sake.  For  her  part,  Birdalone 
longed  sore  to  ask  them  somewhat  of  the  Castle  of 
the  Quest,  but  the  words  clave  to  her  throat  for 
very  fear  ;  and  she  sat  restless  and  ill  at  ease.  How- 
ever at  last  said  a  townsman  to  a  chapman  :  Art 
thou  for  the  Red  Hold,  Master  Peter,  when  thou 

26 


402     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

art  done  here?  Birdalone  turned  very  pale  at  that 
word  ;  and  Master  Peter  spake  :  Yea,  surely,  neigh- 
bour, if  the  folk  leave  aught  in  my  packs  for  others 
to  buy.  He  spake  in  a  jovial  voice,  as  if  he  were 
merry,  and  the  others  all  laughed  together,  as 
though  they  were  well  pleased  and  in  good  content- 
ment. And  now,  deemed  Birdalone,  would  be  her 
time  to  speak  if  she  would  learn  aught ;  so  she 
constrained  herself  at  last,  and  spake,  though  in  a 
quavering  voice :  Meseems  then,  masters, this  good 
town  is  thriving  as  now  ^  This  I  ask  because  I  am 
a  stranger  in  these  parts  this  long  while,  and  now 
I  am  come  back  hither  fain  were  I  to  find  the  land 
in  good  peace  ;  for  I  may  chance  to  take  up  my 
abode  hereby. 

The  goodmen  turned  to  her  and  smiled  kindly 
when  they  heard  the  sweetness  of  her  voice ;  and 
one  of  them  said:  Sir  of  the  sallet,  ye  shall  be  con- 
tent with  the  peace  in  this  land,  and  the  thriving 
of  its  folk;  the  very  villeins  hereabout  live  as  well 
as  franklins  in  most  lands,  and  the  yeomen  and 
vavassours  are  clad  as  if  they  were  knights  of  a 
good  lord's  household.  Forsooth  their  houses  are 
both  goodly  and  easy  to  enter ;  and  well  is  that, 
whereas  there  lacks  never  good  meat  and  drink  on 
the  board  therein.  And  moreover  their  women  are 
for  ever  seeking  whatso  is  fair  and  goodly,  whatso 
is  far-fetched  and  dear-bought,  whereof  we  chap  - 
men  also  thrive,  as  thou  mayst  well  deem.  Ah  ! 
it  is  a  goodly  land  now  ! 

The  others  nodded  and  smiled.  But  Birdalone 
spake,  hardening  her  heart  thereto  for  very  need: 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  403 

Belike  then  there  is  a  change  of  days  here,  for 
when  I  last  knew  of  the  land  there  was  little  peace 
therein.  And  that  will  not  be  so  long  agone,  said 
a  townsman,  smiling,  for  I  doubt  we  should  see 
no  grey  hair  in  thine  head  if  thy  sallet  were  off  it. 
Birdalone  reddened  :  It  will  be  some  five  years 
agone,  said  she.  Yea,  yea,  said  the  townsman,  we 
were  beginning  to  end  the  unpeace  then,  and  it  was 
the  darkest  hour  before  the  dawn;  for  five  years 
agone  we  and  the  good  knights  of  the  Castle  of 
the  Quest  were  lying  before  the  walls  of  the  Red 
Hold.  Forsooth  we  cleared  out  that  den  of  devils 
then  and  there.  What  betid  unto  it  after  ye 
won  it  ?  said  Birdalone,  and  she  trembled  withal. 
Said  the  tovv^nsman:  Heard  ye  never  of  the  Black 
Squire,  a  very  valiant  knight,  since  thou  sayest 
that  thou  hast  known  this  country-side?  She 
bowed  a  yeasay,  for  this  time  she  found  it  hard 
to  speak. 

Well,  said  the  townsman,  we  held  garrison  in  the 
Red  Hold  for  some  three  months,  and  thereafter 
we  craved  of  him  to  come  and  be  our  captain  there- 
in ;  for,  even  after  the  Hold  was  won,  there  was  yet 
a  sort  of  runagates  that  haunted  the  country-side, 
men  who  had  no  craft  save  lifting  and  slaying.  And 
forsooth  we  knew  this  Lord  Arthur  for  the  keen- 
est and  deftest  of  men-at-arms;  so  he  yeasaid  our 
asking,  and  did  all  he  might  herein,  and  forsooth 
that  was  all  there  was  to  do;  for  he  was  ever  in  the 
saddle,  and  at  the  work.  Forsooth  he  was  not  a 
merry  man,  save  when  he  was  at  his  busiest ;  and 
little  he  spake  in  hall  or  chamber,  else  had  he  been 


404     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

better  beloved.  But  at  least  by  no  man  better 
might  the  land  have  been  served. 

There  was  silence  a  little,  and  Birdalone  waxed 
deadly  pale;  then  she  strove  with  herself  and  said: 
Thou  say  est  he  was  and  he  was;  is  he  dead  then.'' 
Said  the  townsman :  Not  to  our  knowledge.  When 
he  had  brought  the  land  into  good  peace,  which  is 
some  three  years  and  a  half  agone,  he  went  his 
ways  from  the  Red  Hold  all  alone,  and  we  saw  him 
no  more.  But  some  folk  deem  that  he  hath  en- 
tered into  religion. 

Birdalone's  heart  sickened,  and  she  thought  to 
herself  that  now  all  was  to  begin  again;  yet  she  felt 
that  the  worst  was  over  since  he  was  not  dead,  and 
she  was  able  to  think  what  she  should  do.  So  she 
said:  Mayhappen  he  hath  gone  back  to  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest?  Nay,  nay,  said  the  townsman,  that 
may  not  be;  for  waste  is  that  house  now;  there  is 
none  dwelleth  there,  save,  it  may  be,  now  and  again 
a  wandering  carle  or  carline  abideth  there  a  day  or 
two.  Said  Birdalone :  How  hath  that  befallen  ? 
or  where  is  gone  Sir  Hugh,  the  Green  Knight  ? 
Said  the  townsman  :  We  knew  the  Green  Knight 
well ;  frank  and  free  and  joyous  was  he  ;  all  men 
loved  him ;  and  his  lady  and  speech-friend,  none 
ever  saw  a  lovelier,  and  as  kind  as  was  he.  But 
we  might  not  keep  them  with  us;  they  are  gone 
into  their  own  country.  Sir  Hugh  left  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest  some  three  months  after  the  Black 
Squire  came  to  us  for  captain,  and  he  gave  over 
the  castle  to  Sir  Geoffrey  of  Lea,  an  old  and  wise 
man  of  war.     But  not  many  months  thereafter  we 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  405 

heard  that  he  also  had  departed,  leaving  it  ungar- 
nished  of  men;  and  we  deem  that  the  cause  thereof 
is  that  something  uncouth  is  seen  and  heard  there- 
in, which  folk  may  not  endure.  Is  it  not  so,  my 
masters  ? 

They  all  yeasaid  that,  and  the  talk  went  on  to 
other  matters.  As  for  Birdalone,  though  her  hope 
to  come  amongst  friends  was  so  utterly  overthrown, 
yet  she  saw  not  what  to  do  save  to  go  her  ways  to 
the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  see  if  perchance  she 
might  find  any  tidings  there.  And  she  said  to  her- 
self, that  if  the  worst  came  to  the  worst,  she  would 
herself  dwell  there  as  an  hermit  of  love ;  or,  may- 
be, to  face  those  uncouth  things  and  see  if  any 
tidings  might  be  compelled  out  of  them. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  BIRDALONE  COM- 
ETH TO  THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEST, 
HEARETH  THE  TALE  THEREOF 
FROM  LEONARD,  AND  DEPARTETH 
THENCE    BY   THE    SENDING    BOAT. 

SHE  arose  betimes  on  the  morrow,  and  was 
out  of  Greenford  so  soon  as  the  gates  were 
open,  and  at  first  made  all  speed  that  she 
might  toward  the  Castle  of  the  Quest ;  and  noth- 
ing hindered  her,  for  the  land  was  verily  in  good 
peace,  and  she  might  have  come  there  if  she  would 
before  sunset,  for  all  whom  she  met  furthered  her. 
But  as  the  day  waned  her  courage  waned  with  it, 
so  that  at  last  she  stayed  some  six  miles  short  of 
the  house,  and  craved  shelter  at  a  yeoman's  stead 
there,  which  was  granted  her  with  all  kindness ; 
and  they  made  much  of  her,  and  she  told  them 
her  vow  of  the  sallet,  and  they  deemed  nought 
save  that  she  was  a  young  man. 

She  departed  early  in  the  morning  with  their  God- 
speed, and  while  the  day  was  yet  young  came  into 
the  meadows  before  the  castle,  and  saw  the  towers 
thereof  rising  up  before  her:  then  she  checked  her 
horse,  and  rode  on  no  faster  than  a  foot's  pace ; 
yet  as  slow  as  she  might  ride,  needs  must  she  get 
to  the  gate  while  the  day  was  yet  young. 

So  came  Birdalone  by  that  bower  wherein  she 
had  slept  that  first  night  she  came  to  the  castle ; 
and  she  reined  up  to  look  on  it ;  and  as  she  sat 
there  gazing,  came  a  man  out  from  it  clad  as  a 
man  of  religion  ;  and  her  heart  beat  quick,  and  she 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  407 

was  like  to  fall  from  her  horse,  for  there  came  into 
her  mind  what  the  townsman  had  said,  that  the 
Black  Squire  had  gone  into  religion.  But  the 
hermit  came  towards  her  with  a  cup  of  water  in 
his  hand,  and  he  cast  his  hood  aback  from  him, 
and  she  saw  at  once  that  it  was  Leonard  the  priest, 
and  though  it  was  not  the  friend  whom  she  sought, 
yet  was  she  glad  that  it  was  a  friend  ;  but  he  came 
and  stood  by  her,  and  said :  Hail,  wayfarer !  wilt 
thou  drink  of  our  well  and  rest  thee  a  while  ?  So 
she  took  the  cup  and  drank  of  the  water,  looking 
kindly  on  him,  while  he  wondered  at  the  beauty  of 
her  hand,  and  misdoubted  him.  Then  she  gave 
him  back  the  cup  and  lighted  down  off  her  horse, 
and  took  the  sallet  from  her  head,  and  spake :  I 
may  not  pass  by  a  friend  without  a  word ;  think  if 
thou  hast  not  seen  me  before  ? 

Then  he  knew  her,  and  might  not  refrain  him, 
but  cast  his  arms  about  her  and  kissed  her,  weep- 
ing ;  and  she  said  :  It  is  sweet  to  me  to  find  a  friend 
after  what  I  have  been  told  of  yonder  house.  Yea, 
said  he,  and  art  thou  going  up  thither  ?  Certes, 
said  she,  and  why  not  ?  Said  he  :  They  are  gone, 
and  all  gone  !  How  and  whither.?  said  she.  But 
I  must  full  certainly  go  thither  at  once ;  I  will  go 
afoot  with  thee  ;  do  thou  tether  my  horse  till  thou 
comest  back. 

He  said :  But  wilt  not  thou  come  back .''  I 
know  not,  she  said :  I  know  nought  save  that  I 
would  go  thither ;  let  it  be  enough  that  I  suffer 
thee  to  go  with  me,  and  on  the  way  thou  shalt  tell 
me  what  thou  canst  of  the  tale. 


408     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Then  went  Leonard  and  tethered  the  horse,  and 
they  went  together  afoot  to  the  gate  ;  and  Birdalone 
told  what  she  had  heard  of  Arthur  and  Hugh  ;  and 
Leonard  said :  This  is  true,  and  there  is  not  much 
else  to  be  said.  When  the  Black  Squire  came  back 
from  the  leaguer  of  the  Red  Hold,  and  had  heard 
before  of  thy  departure,  he  was  heavy  of  mood  and 
few-spoken,  and  wandered  about  as  one  who  might 
find  no  rest ;  yet  was  he  not  stern  with  Atra,  who 
for  her  part  was  no  less  heavy-hearted :  soothly  a 
sad  company  we  were,  and  it  was  somewhat  better 
when  my  Lord  Arthur  went  his  ways  from  us  ;  and 
indeed  eager  he  was  to  be  gone ;  and  it  could  be 
seen  of  him  that  he  was  fain  of  the  toil  and  peril 
which  they  of  Greenford  offered  him.  Then  in 
some  four  months  spake  my  lord  Hugh  that  he 
also  would  be  gone  to  a  place  where  were  both  a 
land  and  folk  that  would  look  friendly  on  him  ;  so 
he  went  with  my  lady  Viridis  and  my  lady  Aurea, 
and  they  had  Atra  also  with  them  ;  and  me  also 
they  would  have  had,  but  my  heart  failed  me  to 
leave  the  place  where  I  had  been  so  glad  and  so 
sorry  with  thee  ;  death  had  been  better ;  wherefore 
in  yonder  bower  as  in  an  hermitage  I  serve  God 
and  abide  my  time.  But  though  I  wot  nought  of 
where  is  gone  the  Black  Squire,  I  know  whereto 
those  four  are  gone,  and  it  is  but  a  seven  days' 
ride  hence,  and  the  land  is  goodly  and  peaceable, 
and  if  they  be  not  dead,  most  like  they  be  there 
yet.  How  sayest  thou  then,  thou  dearest  and 
kindest,  wilt  thou  thither  to  them  ?  For  if  so,  I 
may  well  lead  thee  thither. 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  409 

Birdalone  shook  her  head.  Nay,  she  said,  I 
deem  that  I  am  drawn  elsewhither,  but  soon  I  shall 
tell  thee.  Lo  now  the  gate.  But  ere  we  enter,  tell 
me  of  Sir  Geoffrey  of  Lea,  and  why  it  was  that 
they  might  not  abide  the  uncouth  things,  or  if  there 
were  any  such.  Spake  Leonard  :  Things  uncouth 
there  were,  and  I  was  called  upon  to  lay  them,  and 
I  did  as  biddeth  Holy  Church  in  all  wise,  but  pre- 
vailed not  against  them,  and  still  were  they  seen 
and  heard,  till  folk  might  endure  it  no  longer. 

And  what  like  were  these  things  ?  said  Birda- 
lone, and  are  they  yet  seen  and  heard  ?  Said  Leon  - 
ard  :  Strange  it  is,  but  last  night  I  went  into  the 
great  hall  where  they  mostly  betid,  and  laid  me 
down  there,  as  whiles  I  do,  for  I  fear  them  not,  and 
would  see  if  they  yet  appear  ;  but  all  night  came 
nothing  at  all.  As  to  the  likeness  of  them  .  .  Then 
he  stopped,  but  said  presently  :  Hard  it  is  to  tell 
thee  of  them,  but  needs  must  L  There  be  two  of 
these  things  ;  and  one  is  an  image  of  a  tall  woman 
of  middle-age,  red-haired,  white-skinned,  and  mea- 
gre, and  whiles  she  has  a  twiggen  rod  in  her  hand, 
and  whiles  a  naked  short  sword,  and  whiles  nought 
at  all.  But  the  voice  of  her  is  cursing  and  blas- 
pheming and  ill-saying. 

Said  Birdalone  :  This  is  then  a  fetch  of  my 
witch-mistress  of  whom  I  told  thee  erst,  and  the 
image  of  her  ;  what  is  the  other  ?  Said  Leonard  : 
I  were  fain  not  to  tell  thee.  Yet  needs  must  thou, 
said  Birdalone.  Dear  lady,  said  Leonard,  the  other 
is  an  image  of  thee,  and  even  most  like  unto  thee  ; 
but  whiles  clad  in  a  scanty  grey  coat  and  barefoot, 


4IO     THE  WATER  OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

and  whiles  clad  in  a  fair  green  gown  goodly  broid- 
ered,  and  broidered  shoon ;  and  whiles  all  mother- 
naked. 

And  what  voice  cometh  from  mine  image  ?  said 
Birdalone,  smiling,  yet  somewhat  pale  withal.  Said 
Leonard  :  One  while  a  voice  of  sweet  singing,  as 
of  a  bird  in  the  brake,  and  that  is  when  thou  art 
clad  ;  and  again,  when  thou  art  naked,  a  voice  of 
shrieking  and  wailing,  as  of  one  enduring  torments. 

Spake  Birdalone  :  And  when  did  these  wonders 
begin  ?  Said  he  :  Not  till  after  Sir  Hugh  and  thy 
she-friends  were  gone  hence. 

Pondered  Birdalone  a  little  ;  then  she  said  :  I 
see  herein  the  malice  of  my  witch-mistress  ;  she 
would  not  send  these  fetches  while  Hugh  was  here, 
lest  he  should  turn  to  seeking  me  with  all  his  might. 
But  when  they  departed,  she  would  have  the  castle 
waste,  and  then  she  sent  them,  wotting  that  thereby 
she  would  rid  her  of  Sir  Geoffrey  of  Lea  ;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  I  was  nought  so  much  unto 
him  that  he  would  spend  all  his  life  seeking  me. 
But  now  I  deem  I  know  so  much  of  her  that  I  may 
bid  thee  to  look  on  her  as  dead  if  these  fetches 
come  not  again  within  a  little  while.  Then  mayst 
thou  send  and  do  Sir  Geoffrey  to  wit  thereof,  and 
belike  he  will  come  back  again  ;  and  fain  were  I 
thereof,  for  it  will  be  merrier  if  the  Castle  of  the 
Quest  be  dwelt  in  once  more. 

Yea,  verily,  said  Leonard  ;  but  far  merrier  yet 
wert  thou  to  dwell  there.  Nay,  she  said,  but  now 
I  see  that  it  is  not  fated  for  me.  Let  us  go  in,  for 
I  would  get  to  what  I  would  do. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  41 1 

So  therewith  they  passed  under  the  shadow  of 
the  archway,  and  Birdalone  stayed  not  but  went 
straightway  into  the  hall,  and  through  it ;  and  the 
priest,  who  lagged  somewhat  behind  her  speedy 
feet,  cried  out  unto  her :  Whither  wilt  thou  ?  what 
chamber  wilt  thou  visit  first  ?  But  she  stayed  not, 
and  spake  to  him  over  her  shoulder  as  she  went : 
Follow  me  if  thou  wilt ;  I  have  but  one  place  only 
to  come  to  ere  I  leave  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  save 
I  must  needs  turn  back  on  my  footsteps. 

Then  Leonard  came  up  with  her,  and  she  went 
her  ways  out  of  the  hall,  and  out  on  to  the  water- 
swale  of  the  castle,  and  so  to  the  little  haven  of 
the  water-gate.  There  Birdalone  looked  about  her 
eagerly  ;  then  she  turned  to  Leonard  and  pointed 
with  her  finger  and  said  :  Lo  thou  !  there  yet  lieth 
my  ferry  of  old  time,  the  Sending  Boat  ;  now  wot 
I  wherefore  I  was  drawn  hither.  And  her  eyes  glit- 
tered and  her  body  quivered  as  she  spake. 

Yea  forsooth,  said  Leonard,  there  it  lieth  ;  who 
of  all  folk  in  the  castle  had  durst  to  touch  it  ?  But 
what  hath  it  to  do  with  thee,  O  kindest  lady  ? 

Friend,  she  said,  if  this  day  weareth,  and  I  am 
yet  within  these  walls,  then  meseemeth  there  must 
I  abide  for  evermore ;  and  there  perchance  shall  I 
meet  that  seeming  of  myself,  maybe  for  this  night, 
maybe  for  ever,  till  I  die  here  in  this  castle  void 
of  all  that  I  love,  and  I  over-young  for  it,  friend. 
And  I  know  now  that  there  is  hope  within  me  ; 
for  I  bethink  me  of  a  dear  friend  over  yonder  water 
of  whom  I  have  never  told  any,  nor  will  tell  thee 
now,  save  this,  that  she  is  the  v/isdom  of  my  life. 


412     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Wherefore  now  I  will  try  this  ferry  and  wot  if  the 
wight  thereof  will  yet  obey  the  voice  of  the  speaker 
of  the  spell,  who  has  shed  of  her  blood  to  pay 
therefor.  Put  not  forth  a  hand  therefore  nor  speak 
a  word  to  let  me,  but  take  this  farewell  of  me,  with 
my  pity  and  such  love  as  I  may  give  thee,  and  let 
me  go,  and  think  kindly  of  me. 

Then  she  went  up  to  him,  and  laid  her  hands 
upon  his  shoulders,  and  kissed  him,  and  turned 
about  without  more  ado  and  stepped  into  the  boat; 
then  she  sat  down  and  stripped  her  arm  of  its 
sleeve,  and  drew  forth  a  knife  and  let  blood  of  her 
arm,  and  then  arose  and  smeared  stem  and  stern 
therewith,  and  then  sat  down  with  her  face  to  the 
stern  and  sang : 

The  red  raven-wine  now 

Hast  thou  drunk,  stern  and  bow  ; 

Wake  then  and  awake 

And  the  Northward  way  take : 

The  way  of  the  Wender  forth  over  the  flood. 

For  the  will  of  the  Sender  is  blent  with  the  blood. 

Then  she  abode  a  little,  while  Leonard  stood 
staring  on  her  speechless  with  grief  and  blinded 
with  his  bitter  tears,  till  the  boat  began  to  move 
under  her,  and  presently  glided  out  of  the  little 
haven  into  the  wide  lake ;  then  she  turned  her 
face  back  unto  him  and  waved  her  hand,  and  he 
knelt  down  and  blessed  her,  weeping.  And  so 
she  vanished  away  from  before  him. 


CHAPTER  IX.  BIRDALONE  FINDETH 
THE  ISLE  OF  NOTHING  GREATLY 
BETTERED,  AND  IS  KINDLY  EN- 
TREATED   THERE. 

NOW  it  was  scarce  noon  when  she  departed, 
and  the  dark  night  came  upon  her  in  the 
midst  of  the  water ;  and  she  fell  asleep  in 
the  boat  ere  the  night  had  grown  very  old,  and 
woke  up  in  the  morning,  not  exceeding  early, 
maybe  about  six  o'clock ;  then  she  looked  ahead 
and  thought  presently  to  see  the  ill-favoured  blotch 
of  the  Isle  of  Nothing  on  the  bosom  of  the  blue 
waters,  whereas  it  was  a  fair  and  cloudless  morning 
of  latter  May.  Sure  enough  she  saw  land  ahead, 
and  it  lay  low  down  on  the  water,  but  she  deemed 
from  the  first  that  it  was  green  of  hue,  and  as  she 
neared  it  she  saw  that  it  was  verily  as  green  as  emer- 
ald. Thereat  she  was  a  little  troubled,  because  she 
thought  that  mayhappen  the  Sending  Boat  had 
gone  astray,  and  that  if  the  wight  thereof  were  not 
wending  the  old  road,  maybe  he  was  not  making 
for  the  old  haven.  For  now  indeed  she  told  her- 
self right  out  that  her  will  was  to  go  back  again  to 
the  House  under  the  Wood,  and  see  what  might 
betide  there,  and  if  she  and  the  wood-mother  to- 
gether might  not  overcome  the  witch. 

But  whatever  might  happen  nought  could  she 
do  but  sit  in  her  place  and  wend  as  the  Sending 
Boat  would  ;  and  in  an  hour's  space  she  was  right 
under  the  lee  of  the  land,  and  she  saw  that  it  was 
shapen  even  as  the  Isle  of  Nothing  had  been  afore- 


414     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

time.  But  this  made  her  wonder,  that  now  the 
grass  grew  thick  down  to  the  lip  of  the  water,  and 
all  about  from  the  water  up  were  many  little  slim 
trees,  and  some  of  them  with  the  May-tide  blos- 
som yet  on  them,  as  though  it  were  a  fair  and  great 
orchard  that  she  was  nearing ;  and  moreover,  be- 
yond all  that  she  saw  the  thatched  roofs  of  houses 
rising  up. 

Presently  then  the  Sending  Boat  had  brought 
her  to  the  land,  and  she  stepped  ashore,  but  was 
wary,  and  gat  her  bow  bent  and  set  an  arrow  thereto 
ere  she  began  to  go  up  from  the  water.  Yet  she 
thought  within  herself,  it  will  be  nought  ill  if  I  be 
come  amongst  folk,  so  long  as  they  be  peaceful,  or 
else  how  might  I  live  the  journey  out  to  all  the 
isles  and  so  home  to  the  House  under  the  Wood  .'' 

So  she  turned  her  face  to  where  she  had  seen 
those  roofs,  which  now  she  saw  no  longer  because 
of  the  thick  leaves  of  the  little  trees,  and  so  went 
along  a  narrow  path,  which  grew  to  be  more  and 
more  closely  beset  with  trees,  and  were  now  no 
longer  apple  and  pear  and  quince  and  medlar,  but 
a  young-grown  thicket  of  woodland  trees,  as  oak 
and  hornbeam  and  beech  and  holly. 

At  last  as  she  went  she  heard  voices  before  her, 
so  she  stole  warily  to  the  edge  of  the  copse,  finger 
on  shaft ;  and  presently  could  see  clear  of  the 
saplings  and  out  on  to  a  wide  space  of  greensward, 
beyond  which  was  a  homestead  of  many  houses  and 
bowers,  like  unto  that  of  a  good  yeoman  in  peace- 
ful lands,  save  that  the  main  building  was  longer, 
though  it  were  low.     But  amidst  the  said  green- 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  415 

sward  was  a  goodly  flock  of  sheep  that  had  been 
but  of  late  washed  for  the  shearing,  and  along  with 
the  sheep  four  folk,  two  carles  and  two  queans,  all 
of  them  in  their  first  youth,  not  one  by  seeming 
of  over  a  score  and  two  of  summers.  These  folk 
were  clad  but  simply,  man  and  woman,  in  short 
coats  of  white  woollen  (but  the  women's  coats  a 
little  longer  than  the  men's),  without  shoon  or 
hosen ;  they  had  garlands  of  green  leaves  on  their 
heads,  and  were  wholly  unarmed,  save  that  one  of 
the  men  bore  an  ashen  wand  in  his  hand.  As  for 
their  bodies,  they  were  goodly  of  fashion,  tanned 
indeed  by  the  sun's  burning,  but  all  sweet  of  flesh 
were  they,  shapely  and  trim,  clean-made,  and  light 
and  slim. 

Birdalone's  heart  yearned  toward  them,  and  she 
stepped  straightway  from  out  of  the  cover  of  the 
coppice,  and  the  sun  flamed  from  her  sallet  and 
glittered  in  the  rings  of  her  hauberk,  so  that  the 
folk  might  not  fail  to  see  her  ;  the  sheep  fled  bun- 
dling from  her  past  their  keepers,  who  stood  firm, 
but  seemed  somewhat  scared,  and  moved  not  to- 
ward Birdalone.  She  gave  them  the  sele  of  the  day 
and  stood  still  herself;  but  the  man  with  the  ash- 
wand  said:  Hail,  thou  man;  but  we  would  have 
thee  come  no  nearer  a  while,  though  thy  voice  be 
sweet:  for  we  know  what  things  they  be  which  thou 
bearest,  and  that  thou  art  a  warrior.  Wilt  thou 
hurt  us  ? 

Birdalone  laughed  as  sweetly  as  the  blackbird 
sings,  and  she  did  ofl^  her  sallet  and  shook  the  plen- 
teous hair  down  over  her,  and  then  drew  forth  her 


41 6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

sword  and  dagger  and  cast  them  to  earth,  and  laid 
her  bow  and  quiver  of  arrows  upon  them,  and  said  : 
Now  will  I  come  to  you,  or  ye  shall  come  to  me, 
whereas  I  am  unweaponed,  and  no  warrior,  but  a 
woman,  and  ye  are  four  to  one,  and  two  of  you 
carles  ;  wherefore  now  ye  may  bind  me  or  slay  me  if 
you  will ;  but  in  any  case  I  pray  you  first  to  give 
me  a  mouthful  of  meat. 

When  she  had  done  her  speech,  she  went  up  to 
the  fairest  of  the  women  and  kissed  her  ;  but  the 
two  carles  made  no  more  ado  but  came  to   Bird- 
alone  and  kissed  her  one  after  other,  and  that  as; 
men  who  needed  nought  to  compel  them  therein, 
and  each  thereafter  took  a  hand  of  her  and  held  it 
and  caressed  it.      But  the  other  woman  had   run 
into  the  house  as  soon  as   Birdalone  spoke,  and; 
came  back  again  with  a  treen  bowl  full  of  milk  anc 
a  little  loaf,  not  white  but  brown  ;  and  there  blu.n 
dered  about  her  legs  as  she  came  a  little  lad  of  sojnt 
three  winters  old,  naked  and  brown,  who  was  sh) 
of  the  gleaming  new-comer,  and   hid  him   behmc 
the  woman  one  while,  and  the  other  while  cime 
forth  to  see  the  new  thing.      But  the  woman  said: 
Dear  woman,  here  is  for  thee  some  of  the  ewes' 
milk,  and  a  bite  of  bread,  and  a  little  deal  of  che^ese  ; 
the  said  milk  is  yet  warm,  so  that  it  is  not  yet  dot  ■ 
tered  ;  but  if  thou  wilt  come  with  us  thou  mt,fesr 
speedily  drink  cows'  milk,  and  we  be  now  at  p.^inu 
to  go  milk  them. 

Birdalone  thanked  her  with  a  heart  full  of  con- 
tent, and  was  not  ill-pleased  to  get  her  hands  free 
from  the  two  carles ;  so  she  sat  down  and  ate  her 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  417 

breakfast  while  they  talked  with  her,  and  told  her 
of  diverse  work  of  theirs ;  as  to  how  their  trees 
were  waxing,  and  new  tillage  they  had  done  the  past 
spring,  and  how  it  befell  to  the  kine  and  the  goats  ; 
of  their  children  also  they  spake,  and  how  there 
were  already  four  thereof,  and  one  of  the  women, 
the  meat-bringer,  already  quickened  with  child  once 
more.  So  that  ere  we  die,  quoth  the  carle  who  was 
speaking,  we  look  to  see  many  grandchildren,  and 
shall  have  some  stout  carles  and  queans  here.  And 
by  that  time  will  some  of  the  trees  be  well  grown, 
so  that  we  may  fell  timber  and  make  us  some  keel 
that  will  wend  the  lake,  and  help  us  a-fishing  ;  or 
we  may  go  to  other  lands  ;  or  whiles  folk  may 
come  to  us,  even  as  thou  hast,  thou  dear-handed, 
sweet-voiced  woman.  But  wilt  thou  abide  here 
ever.? 

Yea,  said  the  other,  but  that  is  looking  forward 
along  while,  that  building  of  ships.  What  is  nearer 
and  well  to  think  of  is,  that  these  apple  and  pear 
trees  be  so  well  fruited,  small  as  they  be,  that  this 
harvest  we  shall  be  able  to  make  us  cider  and  perry ; 
yea,  and  no  little  deal  thereof.  But  art  thou  minded 
to  abide  with  us  ever  ?  That  were  dear  to  us  ;  and 
belike  thou  wouldest  bear  us  children,  thou  also. 

Then  spake  the  meat-fetching  woman  and 
laughed  withal :  Nay,  thou  also  lookest  aloof  a 
pretty  deal ;  whereas  what  is  now  to  do  is  to  go 
milk  the  kine,  and  to  take  this  guest  with  us,  so  that 
she  may  drink  somewhat  better  than  ewes'  milk 
though  the  cider  be  not  ready  to  hand.  But  tell 
me,  our  dear  guest,  art  thou  verily  going  to  abide 

27 


41 8     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

with  us  a  long  while  ?  that  were  sweet  to  us,  and 
we  will  do  all  we  may  to  pleasure  thee. 

Nay,  said  Birdalone,  it  will  no  better  be  but  that 
I  depart  on  the  morrow  ;  and  all  thanks  do  I  give 
you  for  your  kindness. 

The  woman  kissed  her,  and  she  arose,  and  all 
they  went  together  to  the  milking  of  the  kine  some 
half  mile  inland;  and  they  passed  through  much 
of  orchard,  and  some  deal  of  tillage,  wherein  the 
wheat  was  already  growing  high ;  and  so  came  they 
to  a  wide  meadow  through  which  ran  a  little  stream, 
and  therein  was  a  goodly  herd  of  kine.  So  they 
fell  to  the  milking,  and  made  Birdalone  drink  of 
the  sweet  cows'  milk,  and  then  went  and  lay  down 
under  the  shade  of  the  little  young  trees,  and  talked 
and  were  merry  together.  But  the  men  were  both 
of  them  somewhat  willing  at  first  to  kiss  Birdalone 
and  toy  with  her,  but  when  she  let  them  know  that 
she  desired  it  not  thev  refrained  them  without 
grudging. 

All  this  while  of  their  talk  they  asked  Birdalone 
nought  of  whence  and  whither,  and  she  would  not 
ask  them,  lest  it  might  stir  their  asking,  and  then 
she  would  have  to  tell  them  some  deal  of  her  story ; 
and  telling  it  was  now  become  unto  her  somewhat 
weary  work. 

In  a  while  they  arose  all,  and  the  men  and  one 
woman  went  their  ways  to  deal  with  the  acreland, 
but  the  meat-fetcher  went  back  with  Birdalone  into 
the  house;  and  she  showed  her  all  that  was  therein, 
which  was  for  the  more  part,  forsooth,  the  four 
babes  aforesaid.    The  others  came  back  in  the  even- 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  419 

tide,  bearing  with  them  foison  of  blue  hare-bells,  and 
telling  joyously  how  they  had  found  them  anigh  the 
coppice  edge  in  such  a  place  :  and  thereafter  they 
were  merry,  and  sang  and  talked  the  evening  away, 
and  showed  Birdalone  at  last  to  a  fair  little  cham- 
ber wherein  was  a  bed  of  dry  grass,  where  she  lay 
down  and  slept  in  all  content. 


CHAPTER  X.    OF  BIRDALONE'S  FLIT- 
TING FROM  THE  ISLE  OF  NOTHING. 

ON  the  morrow  Birdalone  arose  betimes,  and 
would  not  tarry  despite  all  the  kindness  of 
that  folk  and  the  change  which  had  come 
over  the  Isle  of  Nothing ;  so  the  friends  saw  her 
down  to  the  boat  all  together,  and  bore  down  with 
them  a  deal  of  bread  and  cheese  and  late  apples  of 
the  last  year,  for  her  provision  on  the  road,  and 
a  pail  of  milk  withal ;  and  men  and  women  they 
kissed  her  at  departure,  and  the  meat-fetcher  said: 
If  by  any  means  thou  mayst  find  a  keel  which  will 
carry  thee  hither,  at  some  time,  I  would  thou 
wouldst  come  ;  for  even  if  thou  be  old,  and  we 
passed  away,  yet  here  shall  be  our  children  or  our 
grandchildren  to  welcome  thee ;  and  we  will  tell 
them  the  tale  of  thee  that  they  remember  it  and 
long  for  thee. 

Then  Birdalone  kissed  her  again,  and  made  much 
of  her,  and  so  stepped  into  the  boat,  and  fell  to  her 
sacrifice  to  the  wight  thereof;  and  those  others 
stared  at  her  and  wondered,  and  spake  nought 
unto  her  till  she  was  gone  gliding  over  the  face  of 
the  waters  ;  but  as  they  walked  back  to  the  house, 
they  spake  amongst  themselves  that  this  must  be 
some  goddess  (for  of  Holy  Church  they  knew 
nought)  who  had  come  to  visit  them  in  her  loveli- 
ness ;  and  in  after  times,  when  this  folk  waxed  a 
many,  and  tilled  all  the  isle  and  made  ships  and 
spread  to  other  lands  and  became  great,  they  yet 
had  a  memory  of  Birdalone  as  their  own  very  lady 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  421 

and  goddess,  who  had  come  from  the  fertile  and 
wise  lands  to  bless  them,  when  first  they  began  to 
engender  on  that  isle,  and  had  broken  bread  with 
them,  and  slept  under  their  roof,  and  then  de- 
parted in  a  wonderful  fashion,  as  might  be  looked 
for  of  a  goddess. 

But  as  for  Birdalone,  she  came  not  back  ever, 
nor  saw  that  folk  again,  and  now  she  sped  over  the 
water  toward  the  Isle  of  Kings. 


CHAPTER  XT.  COMING  TO  THE 
ISLE  OF  KINGS  BIRDALONE  FIND- 
ETH  THERE  A  SCORE  AND  TWO  OF 
FAIR  DAMSELS  WHO  WOULD  FAIN 
HAVE    HER   COMPANY. 

BIRDALONE  came  ashore  at  the  said  isle  at 
the  day-dawn,  and  saw  but  little  change  in 
the  isle  when  it  grew  light,  and  still  the  castle 
stood  looking  down  awfully  on  to  the  meadows. 
But  when  she  had  set  foot  on  the  land,  she  handled 
her  bow  lest  the  worst  might  befall,  and  looked 
about  her,  deeming  that  this  time  she  would  not 
go  her  ways  to  the  dread  show  that  was  arrayed  in 
the  castle,  if  forsooth  those  dead  folk  yet  abode 
there. 

So  now  as  she  looked  across  the  meadow,  she  saw 
one  with  light  and  fluttering  raiment  come  forth 
from  the  trees,  and  look  toward  her  whereas  she 
stood  flashing  and  gleaming  in  the  sun  like  an  im- 
age of  the  God  of  Love  turned  warrior.  Now 
Birdalone  deemed  for  sure  that  this  was  a  woman  ; 
she  saw  her  come  a  little  nigher  to  her,  and  then 
stand  looking  at  her  under  the  sharp  of  her  hand  ; 
then  she  turned  about  and  ran  back  to  the  brake 
whence  she  came ;  and  presently  Birdalone  heard 
the  sound  of  voices  coming  thence,  and  in  a  little 
while  thereafter  came  forth  from  the  said  brake  a 
rout  of  women  (one  score  and  two  as  they  were  told 
thereafter)  and  walked  over  the  meadow  straight 
unto  her.  She  stood  where  she  was,  so  as  to  be 
nigh  unto  her  ferry  in  case  they  willed  her  unpeace  ; 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  423 

for  though  they  were  weaponless  by  seeming,  they 
were  a  many. 

When  they  were  come  near  they  stood  about 
her  in  a  half  ring,  whispering  and  laughing  each  to 
each.  Birdalone  saw  that  they  were  all  young,  and 
that  none  of  them  might  be  called  ungoodly,  and 
some  were  full  fair.  They  were  bright  and  fine  of 
array.  Most  bore  gold  and  gems  on  fingers  and 
neck  and  arms ;  they  were  clad  in  light,  or  it  may 
be  said  wanton  raiment  of  diverse  colours,  which 
had  only  this  of  their  fashion  in  common,  that  they 
none  of  them  hid  over-much  of  their  bare  bodies  ; 
for  either  the  silk  slipped  from  the  shoulder  of  her, 
or  danced  away  from  her  flank  ;  and  she  whose  feet 
were  shod,  spared  not  to  show  knee  and  some  deal 
of  thigh  ;  and  she  whose  gown  reached  unsheared 
from  neck  to  heel,  wore  it  of  a  web  so  thin  and  fine 
that  it  hid  but  little  betwixt  heel  and  neck. 

Birdalone  stood  gazing  on  them  and  wondering, 
and  she  had  a  mind  to  think  that  they  were  some 
show  sent  by  her  old  mistress  the  witch  for  her 
undoing,  and  she  loosened  her  sword  in  its  sheath 
and  nocked  an  arrow. 

But  then  ran  forward  two  of  the  damsels  and 
knelt  before  her,  and  each  took  an  hand  of  her 
and  fell  to  kissing  it,  and  she  felt  their  hands  that 
they  were  firm  and  their  lips  that  they  were  soft 
and  warm,  and  they  were  doubtless  alive  and  real. 
Then  spake  one  of  them  and  said  :  Hail  our  lord! 
How  can  words  say  how  we  rejoice  in  thy  coming 
this  happy  morn  !  Now  do  all  we  give  ourselves  to 
thee  as  thy  slaves  to  do  as  thou  wilt  with.  Yet  we 
pray  thee  be  merciful  to  us  and  our  longings. 


424     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Therewith  all  the  sort  of  them  knelt  down  on 
the  grass  before  Birdalone  and  joined  their  hands 
as  praying  to  her.  And  Birdalone  was  full  ill  at 
ease,  and  wotted  not  where  she  was.  But  she  said  : 
Hail  !  and  good  days  and  fulfilment  of  wishes  unto 
you,  fair  damsels  !  But  tell  me,  is  this  the  Isle  of 
Kings,  as  I  deemed  ;  for  strange  it  is  for  me  to  see 
ye  womenfolk  here  ? 

Said  she  who  had  spoken  afore  :  Yea  verily  this 
is  the  Isle  of  Kings  ;  but  long  ago  are  the  kings 
dead,  and  yet  they  sit  dead  in  the  great  hall  of  the 
castle  yonder,  as  thou  mayst  see  if  thou,  who  art 
a  man  and  a  valiant  warrior,  durst  follow  up  yon 
mountain  path  thereto;  but  we,  weak  women  and 
little-hearted,  durst  not  go  anigh  it ;  and  we  trem- 
ble when  whiles  a-nights  cometh  down  thence  the 
sound  of  clashing  swords  and  clattering  shields,  and 
the  cries  of  men  in  battle.  But,  praise  be  to  the 
God  of  Love,  nought  cometh  down  from  thence 
unto  us.  Therefore  do  we  live  peaceful  lives  and 
pleasant  here,  lacking  nought  but  thee,  lord  ;  and 
lo  now  thou  hast  come  unto  us,  and  we  are  happy 
in  our  inmost  hearts. 

Now  was  Birdalone  perplexed  and  knew  not 
what  to  do  ;  but  at  last  she  said  :  Gentle  maidens, 
I  pray  you  pardon  me,  but  I  must  depart  straight- 
way ;  for  I  have  an  errand,  and  life  or  death  lieth 
on  it.  In  all  else  than  my  abiding  here  may  ye 
have  your  will. 

Therewith  did  she  move  a  little  way  toward  her 
ferry  ;  but  forthwith  all  they  brake  out  weeping 
and  wailing  and  lamenting,  and  some  of  them  came 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  425 

Up  to  Birdalone  and  cast  themselves  down  before 
her,  and  clasped  her  knees,  and  took  hold  of  her 
skirts,  and  besought  her  piteously  to  abide  with 
them.  But  she  put  them  aside  as  well  as  she  might, 
and  stepped  aboard  the  Sending  Boat,  and  stood 
amidst  it  waiting  on  their  departure;  but  they  went 
not,  and  stood  along  on  the  lip  of  the  land  crying 
out  and  beseeching  with  much  clamour. 

Then  Birdalone  waxed  somewhat  wrath  at  their 
noise  and  tumult,  and  she  drew  forth  her  knife  and 
bared  her  arm  and  let  blood  from  it.  But  when 
they  saw  the  whiteness  and  roundness  of  it,  and  how 
fine  and  sleek  it  was,  straightway  they  changed  their 
tune,  and  cried  out :  A  woman,  a  woman,  a  fool  of 
a  woman !  and  they  laughed  in  scorn  and  mockery. 
And  the  speaker  of  them  said  :  Now  there  is  but 
one  thing  for  thee  to  do,  and  that  is  to  come  forth 
from  thy  boat  and  strip  off  thy  stolen  raiment,  and 
we  shall  make  thee  as  fine  as  ourselves,  and  thou 
shalt  come  with  us,  and  with  us  abide  the  coming 
of  our  lord.  Nay,  thou  art  so  fair  and  lovely,  that 
thou  shalt  be  the  Lady  and  Queen  of  us,  and  we 
will  do  after  thy  commands,  and  thou  mayst  chas- 
tise us  if  we  fail  therein.  But  now  if  thou  wilt  not 
come  forth  of  the  boat  uncompelled,  we  shall  pluck 
thee  forth  of  it. 

And  therewith  she  set  her  foot  on  the  gunwale 
of  the  boat,  and  two  or  three  others  did  the  like. 
But  now  had  Birdalone  her  sword  naked  in  her 
hand,  and  she  waxed  as  red  as  blood,  and  cried  out  t 
Forbear  I  bid  you!  Yea  verily  I  am  a  woman; 
but  I  will  not  take  this  offer  either,  whereas  I  have 


426     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

an  errand,  as  I  told  you.  And  so  stern  it  is,  that 
if  ye  now  let  my  departure  I  will  not  spare  to  smite 
with  this  sword  whoso  first  cometh  aboard  my 
ferry,  and  though  I  be  not  a  man,  yet  shall  ye  find 
that  in  this  matter  I  shall  be  little  worse,  whereas 
I  am  armed  and  ye  be  naked. 

Then  they  drew  back  and  stood  gibing  and  jeer- 
ing at  her;  but  she  heeded  it  no  whit,  but  reddened 
stem  and  stern  of  the  Sending  Boat,  and  sang  her 
spell,  and  forth  glided  the  ferry,  while  the  damsels 
stood  and  stared  astonished.  As  for  Birdalone, 
as  she  sped  on  her  way  she  might  not  refrain  her 
laughter.     Thus  she  wended  the  wet  highway. 


CHAPTER  XII.  BIRDALONE  COMETH 
AGAIN  TO  THE  ISLE  OF  QUEENS,  AND 
FINDETH  A  PERILOUS  ADVENTURE 
THEREIN. 

IT  was  not  yet  daybreak  when  Birdalone  came 
ashore  again,  and  the  moon  was  down,  and  it 
was  dark;  wherefore  she  durst  not  go  up  on 
the  land,  but  lay  down  in  the  ferry  and  fell  asleep 
there.  When  she  woke  again  it  was  broad  day- 
light, the  sun  was  up,  and  a  little  ripple  was  run- 
ning over  the  face  of  the  water.  She  stepped  ashore 
straightway,  and  looked  up  the  land  and  to  the 
right  hand  and  the  left,  and  saw  at  once  that  it  was 
indeed  the  Isle  of  Oueens,  and  the  house  stood  trim 
and  lovely  as  of  old  time;  then  she  longed  some- 
what to  tread  the  green  meadow  a  little,  for  yet 
young  was  the  day,  and  she  saw  nought  stirring 
save  the  throstle  and  a  few  small  beasts.  How- 
ever, she  said  to  herself  that  she  would  go  nowhere 
nigh  to  the  goodly  house  wherein  abode  those 
images  of  death.  Yet  her  body  longed  so  sore  for 
the  springtide  freshness  of  the  grass,  and  was  so 
bewooed  of  the  flowery  scent  thereof,  that  though 
she  durst  not  go  unarmed,  she  did  off  her  foot- 
gear and  went  stealing  softly  barefoot  and  with 
naked  legs  over  the  embroidered  greensward,  say- 
ing aloud  to  herself:  If  run  for  the  ferry  I  needs 
must,  lighter  shall  I  run  so  dight. 

Nonetheless,  she  had  gone  but  a  little  way  ere 
a  terror  took  hold  of  her,  though  she  saw  no  child 
of  Adam  anigh,  and  she  turned  and  ran  back  swiftly 


428     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

to  her  old  place  and  sat  down  under  a  twisted  oak- 
tree  hard  by  the  Sending  Boat,  and  abode  there 
panting  and  quaking,  and  scarce  daring  to  look  up 
from  the  grass  for  a  while.  Then  her  heart  came 
back  to  her,  and  she  laughed,  and  said  to  herself: 
I  am  a  fool,  for  I  need  fear  nought  on  this  Isle  of 
Queens  save  women  like  myself 

Yet  she  sat  there  a  little  while  longer  without 
stirring ;  then  she  stood  up  and  looked  keenly 
around,  and,  as  aforesaid,  exceeding  far-sighted  she 
was ;  but  still  she  saw  neither  man  nor  maid  nor 
suckling  child. 

Then  her  eyes  sought  the  lips  of  the  lake,  and 
rested  on  a  little  bight  some  stone's  throw  ahead 
of  the  Sending  Boat,  where,  a  little  back  from  the 
water,  slim  willows  made  a  veil  betwixt  the  water 
and  the  meadow ;  and  she  looked,  and  saw  how 
pleasant  a  place  it  were  for  a  one  to  stand  and  look 
on  the  ripple  just  left,  while  the  water  dripped  from 
the  clear  body  on  to  the  grass.  And  her  bare  feet 
fell  to  telling  her  clad  sides  of  the  sweet  coolness 
of  the  water,  and  waited  for  no  naysay,  but  lightly 
bore  her  toward  the  willowy  bight.  And  when  she 
was  there,  she  did  off  her  sallet  and  ungirt  her,  and 
laid  her  sword  on  the  grass,  and  did  off  her  sur- 
coat  and  hauberk,  and  so  was  a  woman  again  in 
one  white  coat  above  her  smock.  Then  she  looked 
heedfully  betwixt  the  willow-boughs,  and.  saw  no 
more  than  before,  nought  but  a  little  whitethorn 
brake,  now  white  indeed  with  blossom,  some  fifty 
yards  landward  from  where  she  stood.  So  she 
laughed,  and  did  off  her  other  raiment,  and  slid 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  429 

swiftly  into  the  water,  that  embraced  her  body  in 
all  its  fresh  kindness;  and  as  for  Birdalone,  she 
rewarded  it  well  for  its  past  toil  by  sporting  and 
swimming  to  her  full. 

Then  she  came  forth  from  the  water,  and  clad 
herself  in  no  great  haste,  and  did  on  her  hauberk 
and  sallet  and  sword,  and  so  went  back  to  her  place, 
and  sat  down  and  began  to  do  on  her  foot-gear. 

But  as  she  looked  up  from  her  work  a  moment, 
lo!  a  tall  man  coming  toward  her,  and  just  about 
the  willows  whereby  she  had  bathed.  Her  heart 
beat  quick  and  her  face  changed,  yet  she  hastened, 
and  was  shod  and  stood  up  in  knightly  array  by 
then  he  stayed  his  steps  some  five  paces  from  her, 
and  gave  her  the  sele  of  the  day  in  courteous  wise; 
and  she  strove  to  think  that  he  had  not  seen  her, 
or  at  least  noted  her  otherwise  dight;  yet  her  heart 
misgave  her. 

He  was  a  grizzled-haired  man  of  over  fifty  sum- 
mers by  seeming,  but  goodly  enough  and  well-knit ; 
he  was  clad  in  a  green  coat  more  than  a  little  worn, 
but  made  after  the  fashion  of  knighthood;  he  had 
nought  on  his  head  but  an  oak-chaplet,  and  no 
weapons  but  a  short  sword  by  his  side  and  a  stout 
staff  in  his  hand. 

She  gave  back  his  greeting  in  a  quavering  voice  ; 
and  he  said  :  Welcome  again,  young  man.  Art 
thou  come  to  dwell  with  us  ?  Truly  thou  art  trim 
now,  but  ere  some  few  months  thine  attire  will  be 
not  so  much  fairer  than  ours,  and  thine  hauberk 
will  be  rusted,  for  here  be  no  joyous  tiltings  nor 
deeds  of  arms,  and  no  kind  ladies  to  give  the  award 


430     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

of  honour,  so  that  if  we  fight  amongst  ourselves  it 
will  be  because  we  have  fallen  out,  and  spitefully. 
Yet  (and  he  laughed,  mockingly,  as  she  thought) 
thou  mayst  bring  us  luck,  and  draw  some  fair 
damsels  unto  us,  for  that  is  what  we  await  in  this 
isle,  which  is  barren  of  their  fair  bodies,  despite  of 
its  deceitful  name. 

Thereat  Birdalone  reddened,  deeming  that  he 
divined  her  womanhood,  but  she  enforced  her  to 
speak  hardily,  and  as  manly  as  she  might,  and  said: 
Yea,  fair  sir,  and  if  I  be  the  God  of  Love,  as  thou 
deemest,  and  not  merely  a  poor  squire  (Louis  De- 
lahaye,  at  thy  service),  how  many  damsels  shall  I 
send  thee  if  there  must  needs  be  one  to  each  man 
of  you  ?  Quoth  he  :  Thou  must  make  up  the  tale 
to  a  score  or  more,  or  some  of  us  must  lack.  Sooth 
to  say,  at  this  time  thou  needest  not  haste  over- 
much for  all  the  tale,  whereas  there  is  but  one 
other  of  the  company  near  at  hand,  a  mere  foolish 
young  man  ;  the  others  are  gone  to  the  leeward 
side  of  the  isle,  to  fetch  us  venison  and  fish,  both 
of  which  are  more  plenty  there  than  here;  where- 
fore are  we  two  somewhat  lonesome  in  this  stead, 
all  the  more  as  we  be  over-nigh  to  the  sorcery  in 
the  great  house,  which  we  durst  not  enter ;  for 
though  nought  cometh  out  thence  down  unto  us, 
yet  hear  we  a-night-tides,  first  songs,  and  then  cries 
and  shrieking,  come  out  therefrom. 

Then  he  stayed  his  speech,  and  drew  a  little 
nigher  to  Birdalone,  and  then  grinned,  and  said  : 
Forsooth  we  can  spare  him,  we  twain.  And  he 
looked  on  her  hard,  and  the  colour  came  into  her 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  43 1 

cheeks,  and  she  laughed  uneasily,  as  a  dainty  lady 
when  she  heareth  some  unmeet  tale. 

But  again  the  old  carle  drew  nigher  to  her,  and 
said  :  Thou  seemest  to  have  a  good  bow  and  store 
of  arrows  ;  if  thou  wouldst  lend  them  to  me  for  a 
little,  and  come  with  me  into  the  wood  hard  by,  I 
might  shoot  thee  some  venison  with  little  toil  to 
thee  ;  whereas,  forsooth,  thou  lookest  scarce  like 
one  who  is  meet  for  over-much  toil.  Again  she 
reddened,  and  spake  nought  this  time  ;  and  he  said : 
Deem  not  there  be  no  deer  this  end  of  the  isle  be- 
cause I  said  that  the  others  were  gone  to  fetch 
home  venison  ;  only  the  deer  be  tamer  there  and 
more,  and  we  have  but  evil  shooting-gear,  whereas 
thou  art  well  found  therein.  Wilt  thou  not  come  ? 
we  shall  have  merry  feast  after  the  hunt. 

Now  had  Birdalone  come  to  her  wits  again,  and 
she  answered  like  a  merry  youth,  with  a  flavour 
of  mockery  in  her  speech  :  Fair  sir,  thou  shalt  not 
deem  that  I  need  much  help  in  slaying  the  dun 
deer  ;  for  I  do  thee  to  wit  that  I  shoot  not  ill  in 
the  bow ;  neither  am  I  heavy-footed.  But  I  will 
not  hunt  in  your  park  to-day,  for  I  have  an  errand 
which  calleth  me  away,  so  that  I  shall  depart  hence 
presently.  Besides,  wise  elder,  there  is  thine  er- 
rand to  see  to ;  and  if  I  be  the  God  of  Love,  as 
thou  sayest,  I  must  not  keep  thee  and  thy  valiant 
fellows  languishing  mateless  ;  so  with  thy  leave  I 
will  now  depart,  that  I  may  send  you  a  score  of 
fair  damsels  for  your  company. 

And  she  turned  about  and  made  a  step  toward 
her  boat ;  but  the  carle  drew  nearer,  laughing  ;  and 


432     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

he  said  :  Truly  sayest  thou  that  thou  art  not  heavy- 
footed,  for  never  saw  I  feet  Hghter  or  fairer  than 
ghded  over  the  meadow  e'en  now ;  nor  a  fairer 
body  than  came  like  rosy-tinted  pearl  fresh  out  of 
the  water  while  1  lay  hidden  in  yonder  thorn-brake 
that  while.  Wherefore  trouble  not  thyself  to  bring 
any  more  damsels  than  thyself,  fairest  Goddess  of 
Love,  for  thou  art  enough  for  me. 

And  therewith  he  ran  forward,  and  stretched  out 
a  hand  to  her  ;  but  in  that  nick  of  time  had  she 
her  sword  naked  in  her  hand,  and  the  carle  drew 
back  before  the  glitter  thereof,  and  cried  out :  Ho, 
ho  !  is  it  to  be  battle,  my  mistress  ?  Deemest  thou 
that  thou  wilt  slay  me  as  lightly  as  the  dun  deer, 
and  thou  with  thy  bow  unstrung  at  thy  back  ? 
Now  shall  I  show  thee  a  trick  of  fence  ;  but  fear 
not  that  I  shall  hurt  thee  to  spoil  thee. 

He  advanced  on  her  with  his  staff  aloft,  and  her 
heart  failed  her,  and  she  quaked,  and  lightly  he 
beat  down  her  guard  and  did  the  sword  out  of  her 
hand  ;  and  again  he  turned  on  her  to  take  her,  but 
she  sprang  aside  and  ran  from  him,  but  ran  land- 
ward perforce,  as  he  was  betwixt  her  and  the  boat ; 
and  he  followed  heavily,  and  had  nought  to  do  in 
the  race. 

But  she  had  not  gone  a  two-score  yards  ere  she 
heard  a  great  shout,  and  another  man  came  running 
over  the  meadow  ;  a  slim  young  man  was  this,  and 
worse  of  attire  than  the  old  carle,  for  so  tattered 
was  his  raiment  that  he  was  half  naked ;  but  he  was 
goodly  of  fashion,  fresh-coloured  and  black-haired. 
Birdalone  stayed  her  feet  when  she  saw  him,  for 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  433 

though  she  doubted  not  to  outrun  him,  yet  whither 
should  she  run,  since  her  ferry  was  behind  her? 

So  the  young  man  came  up  to  her,  and  the  old 
carle  met  him  all  panting,  and  the  young  man  said : 
How  now,  Antony !  what  battle  is  this  ?  and  where- 
fore art  thou  chasing  this  fair  knight  ?  And  thou, 
fair  sir,  why  fleest  thou  this  grey  dastard  ? 

Said  Antony  :  Thou  art  but  a  young  fool.  Otter, 
this  is  no  man,  but  a  woman,  and  I  have  taken  her, 
and  she  is  mine. 

Well,  said  Otter,  I  say  she  is  as  much  mine  as 
thine  ;  nay,  more,  if  she  will  give  herself  unto  me. 
But  if  she  will  not,  she  shall  go  whither  she  will  in 
thy  despite.     Or  art  thou  a  woman  ? 

Yea,  yea,  said  Birdalone  ;  and  I  pray  thee,  by  thy 
mother's  head,  suffer  me  to  depart ;  for  heavy  and 
full  of  need  is  the  errand  that  I  am  about. 

Go  thou  shalt  then,  said  Otter  ;  lead  back  to  thy 
place,  and  I  will  walk  with  thee.  So  did  they  :  and 
Birdalone  went  beside  the  young  man  quaking;  but 
he  put  out  no  hand  unto  her  ;  and  sooth  to  say,  she 
deemed  that  she  had  seldom  seen  so  fair  a  young 
man,  but  it  were  Arthur  or  Hugh. 

Now  he,  as  Antony,  was  girt  with  a  short  sword, 
but  he  let  it  be  in  its  sheath  ;  and  as  they  went,  An- 
tony drew  his  blade  again,  and  hove  it  up  to  smite 
Otter,  but  as  it  befell  Birdalone  saw  him,  and  turned 
rovmd  sharp  upon  him  and  gat  hold  of  his  wrist, 
and  therewith  Otter  turned  also,  and  caught  the  old 
carle  by  the  nape  as  he  turned  away,  and  put  a  foot 
before  his  and  shoved  mightily,  so  that  he  went 
noseling  to  the  earth. 

28 


434     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Then  turned  Otter  about  again,  laughing,  and 
he  said  to  Birdalone  :  By  Saint  Giles  !  thou  art  well- 
nigh  too  valiant  for  a  woman,  and  I  would  that  we 
two  might  be  together ;  and  then  between  us  we 
might  achieve  the  adventure  of  the  dead  ladies  up 
yonder.  She  hung  her  head,  and  said  :  Fair  sir,  it 
may  not  anywise  be  ;  yet  I  thank  thee,  I  thank 
thee. 

So  came  they  to  the  water-side  and  the  Sending 
Boat,  and  Birdalone  stayed  her  feet  there,  and  the 
young  man  said  :  What  is  this  keel,  that  seemeth 
unto  me  as  if  it  were  a  ferry  for  malefactors  wend- 
ing to  a  death  of  torment,  so  grey  and  bleared  and 
water-logged  and  sun-bleached  as  it  is,  and  smeared 
over  with  stains  of  I  know  not  what  ? 

Said  Birdalone  :  Such  as  it  is,  it  is  my  ferry  over 
the  water  to  where  I  wouldbe.  Strange  !  said  Otter; 
to  my  mind  it  is  like  to  our  fortunes  on  this  isle, 
we  who  were  once  knights  and  merry  squires  and 
are  now  as  gangrel  men,  and  of  ill  conditions,  think- 
ing of  nought  save  our  first  desires,  even  those 
which  we  share  with  the  wolf  and  the  kite. 

She  said  :  But  art  thou  of  evil  conditions,  thou 
who  hast  just  delivered  me  from  trouble  ?  He 
smiled  grimly  :  Damsel,  said  he,  I  have  not  de- 
livered thee  yet  from  me,  though  I  have  from  him. 
But  tell  me,  art  thou  a  sorceress  ?  Not  a  black  one, 
said  Birdalone  ;  but  I  will  tell  thee  at  once  that  I 
have  been  bred  by  a  witch  most  mighty,  and  some 
deal  of  lore  have  I  learned.  And  therewith  she  told 
him  of  the  Sending  Boat,  and  how  she  would  have 
to  speed  it  on  the  way. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  435 

He  looked  on  her  a  little  and  then  turned  away, 
and  saw  her  sword  lying  on  the  grass  ;  so  he  went 
to  it  and  picked  it  up  and  brought  it  to  her,  and 
said  :  Thou  mayst  yet  need  this  keen  friend.  So 
she  took  it  and  thrust  it  back  into  the  scabbard, 
quaking  somewhat  because  of  him  ;  so  feeble  and 
frail  as  she  felt  before  him.  Then  he  said  :  If  thou 
deemest  thou  hast  somewhat  to  reward  me  for,  I 
have  a  boon  to  ask  of  thee,  and  granting  that,  we 
shall  be  quits  again.  Yea,  she  said  faintly,  and  what 
is  the  boon  ?  He  said  :  Art  thou  pressed  to  depart 
now,  this  minute  ?  Nay,  said  Birdalone,  not  for 
an  hour  if  there  be  no  peril  here  from  other  men, 
and  .  .  .  and  .  .  .  And  if  I  be  true  to  thee  and 
will  let  thee  go  ?  said  he,  laughing  ;  hah  !  is  that  not 
thy  word  .''  fear  not,  I  swear  by  thine  eyes  that  thou 
shalt  depart  whenso  thou  wilt.  Now  then,  the  boon 
I  crave  is,  that  thou  wilt  sit  down  here  beside  me 
and  tell  me  the  tale  of  thy  life  that  has  been.  Said 
she  :  It  wearies  me  to  think  thereof;  yet  hast  thou 
a  right  to  crave  somewhat  of  me,  and  this  is  not 
hard  to  grant. 

And  she  sat  down  by  him  ;  but  he  said  :  Do  this 
also  for  me,  take  off  thine  headpiece,  since  now  that 
we  know  thee  for  a  woman  it  serveth  thee  nought. 
So  did  she,  and  began  her  tale  straightway,  and  told 
him  all  thereof,  save  as  to  the  wood-wife,  and  he 
sat  hearkening  and  watching  her  face  ;  and  when  she 
had  made  an  end,  he  said  :  Now  shall  I  ask  none 
other  boon  of  thee,  though  I  long  sore  for  it ;  but 
best  it  is  that  we  sunder  straightway,  else  maybe  I 
might  yet  be  for  hindering  thee. 


436     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Therewith  he  stood  up,  and  Birdalone  also,  and 
he  looked  on  her  eagerly,  and  said :  I  am  now  to 
bid  thee  farewell,  and  it  is  most  like  that  I  shall 
never  see  thee  again,  wherefore  I  will  ask  thee  yet 
to  let  one  thing  come  from  thy  mouth  ;  for  I  deem 
thee  the  dearest  of  all  women  I  have  ever  seen. 
What  shall  I  say  ?  said  Birdalone,  smiling  on  him 
kindly ;  must  thou  needs  put  the  word  in  my 
mouth  ?  Thou  hast  been  friendly  with  me  here 
when  need  was  to  me  of  friendliness  ;  wherefore  I 
say,  I  would  I  might  see  thee  again,  and  thou  better 
bestead  than  now  thou  art. 

The  young  man's  face  brightened,  and  he  said : 
Spake  I  not  that  thou  wert  the  dearest  of  all  ?  This 
was  even  the  word  I  would  have  put  in  thy  mouth. 
But  now  see  thou,  one  goeth  on  from  one  thing  to 
another,  and  I  must  now  ask  thee,  is  there  aught 
which  thou  hast  a  mind  to  give  me  ere  I  depart, 
some  keepsake  which  I  durst  not  ask  for  ? 

She  flushed  red  and  said :  I  will  with  a  good  heart 
give  thee  my  bow  and  arrows  for  a  keepsake ; 
whereas  the  old  carle  told  me  that  ye  be  ill  fur- 
nished of  shooting-gear. 

And  she  would  have  taken  her  bow  from  her 
back,  but  he  laughed  aloud,  and  said :  Nay,  nay, 
I  will  not  have  that ;  for  there  be  those  who  gird 
them  to  a  sword  and  know  not  how  to  use  it,  but 
few  will  cumber  their  shoulders  with  bow  and  quiver 
who  cannot  shoot  therewith  ;  I  deem  it  like  that 
thou  art  a  fell  bowman.  Keep  thy  bow  therefore, 
and  if  thou  wilt  go  without  any  other  gift,  even  so 
be  it. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  437 

And  he  made  as  if  he  would  turn  away  ;  but  she 
put  forth  both  her  hands  and  took  his  in  them,  and 
lifted  up  her  face  and  kissed  him  kindly,  and  then 
turned  away  to  her  ferry ;  while  Otter  stood  still 
and  said  in  a  merry  voice  :  Now  is  it  better  than 
well,  for  thou  art  in  all  ways  what  I  would  have 
thee,  and  there  is  nought  like  unto  thee.  And 
therewith  he  turned  away  and  departed  ere  Bird- 
alone  had  stepped  into  the  Sending  Boat,  and  she 
blushing  like  a  rose  the  while.  Then  she  did  due 
sacrifice  to  the  wight  of  the  witch-ferry,  and  sped  on 
her  way  without  any  hindrance. 


CHAPTER  XIII.  COxMING  TO  THE 
ISLE  OF  THE  YOUNG  AND  THE  OLD, 
BIRDALONE  FINDETH  IT  PEOPLED 
WITH    CHILDREN. 

AMIDST  all  this  had  worn  some  hours,  but 
yet  it  was  barely  noon  ;  wherefore  it  was  yet 
dark  by  then  Birdalone  made  the  Isle  of  the 
Young  and  the  Old ;  so  she  stepped  out  of  the 
boat,  and  lay  down  on  the  grass  and  abode  the  dawn 
sleeping.  And  she  awoke  with  the  clatter  of  shrill 
voices,  and  she  rose  up  and  looked,  and  lo  a  mul- 
titude of  children  all  about  her,  both  men  and 
women  children,  and,  as  it  seemed,  from  five  years 
old  upward  to  fifteen.  They  cried  and  crowed 
merrily  when  they  saw  her  stand  up,  and  pressed 
on  her  to  see  her  the  nearer  and  to  touch  her  hands 
or  her  raiment.  They  were  but  little  clad,  and  the 
younger  ones  not  at  all,  but  were  goodly  young- 
lings and  merry.  So  great  was  the  noise  they  raised, 
that  loud  were  the  thunder  which  had  not  been 
hushed  thereby ;  and  Birdalone  stood  looking  on 
them,  smiling,  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  Anon 
she  turned  to  a  tall  thin  lad  of  some  fifteen  winters, 
and  said  unto  him  :  Wilt  thou  now  take  me  unto 
the  house,  and  the  place  where  dwelleth  the  old 
man  .?  Ouoth  he  :  I  neither  know  of  an  old  man, 
nor  rightly  what  it  means,  the  word.  Am  not  I 
old  enough  for  thee  ?  I  am  the  oldest  of  these 
here.  But  belike  thou  art  hungry ;  wherefore  if 
thou  come  to  the  place  where  we  sleep  a-nights, 
and  where  we  shelter  us  from  the  storm  and  the 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  439 

rain  when  need  is,  I  will  give  thee  to  eat;  for  we 
have  both  bread  and  milk  and  cheese,  and  raisins 
of  the  sun. 

So  he  took  her  hand  and  led  her  along,  and  asked 
her  by  the  way  concerning  her  armour  and  weapons, 
and  of  the  fashion  of  battle,  and  she  told  him 
thereof  what  she  would. 

Thus  came  they  to  the  place  where  erst  had  been 
the  cot  under  the  ruin  of  the  great  ancient  house  ; 
but  now  was  gone  all  that  ruin  and  the  great  grey 
walls,  though  the  cot  was  left ;  and  all  about  it  were 
low  bowers  built  of  small  wood  and  thatched  un- 
deftly.  But  the  lad  smiled  when  he  saw  it,  as  if 
the  sight  thereof  made  him  happy  ;  and  he  said  : 
All  these  have  we  made  since  I  have  dwelt  here, 
and  no  other  home  have  I  known. 

And  he  led  her  into  the  cot,  and  set  her  down 
to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  through  the  open  door 
she  could  see  the  children  swarming,  and  they  that 
were  nighest  thrusting  each  other  this  way  and  that 
to  catch  a  sight  of  her. 

Now  she  said  :  Fair  child,  how  gattest  thou  this 
victual  if  there  be  no  older  folk  to  help  you  ? 
Said  he :  We  dig  the  ground  and  sow  it,  and  the 
wheat  comes  up,  and  we  reap  it  in  harvest,  and 
make  bread  of  it ;  and  we  have  goats  and  kine,  and 
we  milk  them,  and  turn  the  milk  with  a  little  blue 
flower,  which  is  fair  to  see.  And  there  are  in  this 
isle  little  hills  where  the  grapes  grow  plenty  ;  and 
some  we  eat  and  some  we  dry  for  store.  Lo  thou, 
such  be  our  ways  for  victual.  But  tell  me,  said 
he,  thou  sayest  old,  and  I  know  not  the  word  ;  art 


440     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

thou  old  ?  She  laughed  :  Not  very,  said  she,  yet 
older  than  thou. 

Said  the  lad :  Thou  art  fair  and  dear  to  look 
on,  and  thy  voice  is  sweet ;  wilt  thou  not  abide  with 
us,  and  teach  us  what  it  is  to  be  old  ?  Nay,  said 
she,  I  may  not,  for  I  have  an  errand  which  driveth 
me  on  ;  wherefore  I  must  be  gone  within  this 
hour. 

Forsooth,  she  was  growing  eager  now  to  be  done 
with  her  journey  and  come  to  the  House  under  the 
Wood,  whatever  should  befall  her  there.  More- 
over she  deemed  it  would  not  be  restful  to  her  to 
abide  among  all  these  restless  children,  with  their 
ceaseless  crying  and  yelping  :  if  rest  she  might,  she 
would  rest,  she  deemed,  in  the  Isle  of  Increase 
Unsought,  if  there  were  no  ill  things  abiding  there. 

Wherefore  now  she  arose,  when  she  had  sat 
hearkening  the  sound  of  the  lad's  prattle  for  a 
while,  for  as  to  the  sense  thereof  she  might  not 
heed  it  over-much.  The  youngling  would  not 
leave  her,  but  led  her,  holding  her  hand,  down  to 
her  ferry  again  ;  she  kissed  him  in  thanks  for  his 
meat,  and  he  reddened  thereat  but  said  nought. 
All  the  whole  rout  of  little  ones  had  followed  her 
down  to  the  water,  and  now  they  stood,  as  thick 
as  bees  on  a  honeycomb,  on  the  bank,  to  watch 
her  departure.  But  if  they  were  keen  to  see  her 
doings  before,  how  much  keener  were  they  when 
it  came  to  the  baring  of  her  arm  and  the  smearing 
of  the  Sending  Boat.  To  be  short,  so  keen  were 
they,  and  pushed  and  shoved  each  other  so  stur- 
dily, that  more  than  one  or  two  fell  into  the  water, 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  441 

and  Birdalone  was  frighted  lest  they  should  drown  ; 
but  they  swam  like  ducks,  and  got  on  to  the  land 
when  they  would,  which  was  not  so  very  soon, 
for  some  of  them  hung  unto  the  gunwale  of  the 
boat,  and  hove  their  faces  up  to  look  over  into  it, 
and  left  not  hold  till  the  ferry  was  fairly  under 
weigh  and  beginning  to  quicken  its  speed. 

So  left  Birdalone  the  isle,  and  nought  befell  her 
on  the  way  to  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought. 


CHAPTER  XIV.  THE  SENDING  BOAT 
DISAPPEARETH  FROM  THE  ISLE  OF 
INCREASE  UNSOUGHT,  AND  BIRDA- 
LONE  SEEKETH  TO  ESCAPE  THENCE 
BY  SWIMMING. 

IT  was  as  before  that  Birdalone  came  to  the 
shore  of  the  isle  while  it  was  yet  night ;  but  the 
wizard  keel  was  so  loathsome  to  her,  that  she 
stepped  out  of  it  and  laid  her  down  on  the  land  for 
what  was  left  of  the  night ;  yet  hard  she  found  her 
bed,  and  neither  grassy  nor  flowery. 

For  all  that,  she  slept,  for  she  was  weary,  and 
it  was  broad  day  and  not  very  early  when  she 
awoke.  She  stood  up  trembling,  for  she  fore- 
boded evil,  so  near  as  she  was  to  the  dwelling  of 
her  old  mistress  ;  and  she  looked  up  to  where  in 
time  past  was  the  fair  and  wicked  house,  and  saw 
that  all  was  changed  indeed  ;  for  no  longer  was  the 
isle  goodly  with  meadow  and  orchard  and  garden, 
but  was  waste  and  bare,  and  nought  grew  on  it  save 
thin  and  wiry  grass,  already  seeding  even  ere  June 
was  born,  and  here  and  there  hard  and  ugly  herbs, 
with  scarce  aught  that  might  be  called  a  flower 
amongst  them.  Trees  there  were  yet,  but  the  most 
of  them  stark  dead,  and  the  best  dying  fast.  No 
beasts  she  saw,  nor  fowl  ;  nothing  but  lizards  and 
beetles,  and  now  and  again  a  dry  grey  adder  coiled 
up  about  a  sun-burned  stone.  But  of  great  carrion 
flies,  green  and  blue,  were  there  a  many,  and  whiles 
they  buzzed  about  her  head  till  she  sickened  with 
loathing  of  them.    All  this  she  found  on  her  way  as 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  443 

she  went  up  toward  the  place  where  erst  was  the 
great  perron.  But  when  she  came  to  the  top  there 
was  no  sign  either  of  the  stairs  or  the  house,  or 
aught  that  ever  was  builded  ;  there  was  nought 
but  the  bare  bent  top,  ungrassed,  parched  by  wind, 
scorched  by  sun,  washed  by  rain. 

She  wandered  about  the  isle,  to  places  where  she 
had  not  been  herself,  but  which  she  deemed  she 
might  have  known  by  the  telling  of  the  Green 
Knight's  tale,  had  there  been  no  change  since  those 
days  ;  but  now  was  all  changed,  and  the  whole  isle 
was  a  mere  waste,  and  withal  poisonous  of  aspect 
to  her  mind,  as  if  many  corpses  lay  underneath  the 
wretched  stones  of  it.  Nevertheless,  though  it 
seemed  so  evil  unto  Birdalone,  she  lingered  on  it, 
wandering  about  till  she  was  to-wearied,  for  she  had 
no  will  to  depart  at  such  time  as  she  would  be  like 
to  come  to  her  old  abiding-place  by  night  and 
cloud ;  wherefore  she  dallied  with  the  time,  and 
came  not  back  to  the  haven  of  her  ferry  till  it  was 
nigh  sunset,  and  the  westering  sun  was  in  her  eyes 
when  she  came  there  ;  and  she  said  to  herself  that 
this  was  the  cause  why  she  might  not  see  the 
Sending  Boat. 

So  she  cleared  her  eyes  and  looked  on  the  thin 
grass  awhile,  and  then  down  over  the  edge  of  the 
land,  and  still  she  saw  not  her  boat.  She  turned  pale, 
and  a  pang  of  anguish  went  to  her  heart ;  but  she 
walked  a  little  east,  deeming  that  perchance  she  had 
erred  as  to  the  place  ot  the  haven  on  that  dull  and 
empty  shore ;  but  yet  there  was  no  boat.  Then 
she  turned  back  wild  with  terror,  and  sought  where 


444     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

erst  she  had  missed  it,  and  found  neither  boat  nor 
the  world's  end.  And  she  deemed  that  there  might 
be  some  devilish  malice  of  the  wight  of  the  Send- 
ing Boat,  to  torment  her  with  fear,  and  she  walked 
along  the  land's  edge  up  and  down,  and  down  and 
up,  further  each  time,  and  still  there  was  no  boat. 

Then  she  stood  still  and  strove  to  think,  and 
might  not,  nor  might  she  do  aught,  but  spread 
abroad  her  hands  and  moaned  in  her  agony ;  for 
now  indeed  she  felt  herself  in  the  trap  ;  and  she 
said  that  all  her  past  life  of  hope  and  desire  and 
love  and  honour  was  all  for  nought,  and  that  she 
was  but  born  to  die  miserably  in  that  foul  ruin  of 
an  isle  envenomed  with  the  memories  of  bygone 
cruelty  and  shame. 

But  in  a  little  while  she  came  somewhat  to  her- 
self, and  she  said  :  At  least  this  hideous  land  shall 
not  mock  my  dying  anguish;  I  will  give  myself  to 
the  water  and  let  it  do  with  me  as  it  will. 

Therewith  she  cast  off  her  helm  and  hauberk 
first,  and  her  weapons,  and  her  pouch  with  the 
treasure  that  could  buy  nought  for  her  now,  and 
thereafter  all  her  raiment,  till  she  was  as  naked  as 
when  she  first  came  aland  there  that  other  time. 
Again  she  moaned,  and  put  up  her  hand  to  her 
bosom  and  felt  a  little  gold  box  lying  there  betwixt 
the  fragrant  hills  of  her  breasts,  which  hung  to  a 
thin  golden  thread  about  her  neck;  and  a  thought 
came  into  her  mind,  and  she  stooped  adown  and 
drew  from  her  pouch  flint  and  fire-steel,  and  then 
opened  the  said  golden  box  and  drew  thence  the 
tress  which  Habundia  the  wood-wife  had  given  to 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  445 

her  those  years  agone,  and  all  trembling  she  drew 
two  hairs  from  it,  as  erst  she  did  on  the  Isle  of 
Nothing,  and  struck  fire  and  kindled  tinder  and 
burnt  the  said  hairs,  and  then  hung  the  golden  box 
with  the  tress  therein  about  her  neck  again ;  and 
she  said  :  O  wood-mother,  if  only  thou  couldst 
know  of  me  and  see  me,  thou  wouldst  help  me  ! 

Thereafter  she  sought  along  the  bank  for  bread 
which  she  had  taken  from  her  store  that  morning, 
and  she  found  it,  and  compelled  herself  to  eat  of 
it  for  the  strengthening  of  her  body,  and  then  she 
stood  and  abode  tidings;  and  by  then  the  sun  had 
just  sunk  below  the  rim  of  the  lake,  and  the  stars 
began  to  twinkle,  for  the  night  was  cloudless,  and 
exceeding  fair,  and  very  warm. 

No  visible  token  came  to  her,  but  her  heart  grew 
stronger,  and  she  seemed  to  see  herself  yet  alive  and 
in  hope  on  the  other  side  of  the  water ;  and  she 
said  :  Who  wotteth  what  Weird  may  do,  or  where 
the  waters  may  bear  me?  and  there  is  no  swimmer 
stronger  than  I. 

So  then  without  more  ado  Birdalone  slipped 
into  the  water,  which  lay  before  her  as  calm  and 
plain  as  a  great  sheet  of  glass,  and  fell  to  rowing 
with  her  arms  and  her  legs  as  though  she  were  but 
swimming  from  Green  Eyot  to  the  mainland,  as 
so  oft  she  had  done  in  the  other  days. 


CHAPTER  XV.  BIRDALONE  LACKETH 
LITTLE  OF  DROWNING,  BUT  COM- 
ETH LATTERLY  TO  THE  GREEN 
EYOT. 

ON  swam  Birdalone,  not  as  one  who  had  a 
mind  to  drown  her  for  the  forgetting  of 
troubles,  but  both  strongly  and  wisely  ; 
and  she  turned  over  on  to  her  back,  and  looked  on 
the  stars  above  her,  and  steered  herself  by  them 
thitherward  whereas  she  deemed  was  the  land  under 
the  wood.  When  she  had  been  gone  from  the  evil 
isle  for  an  hour  or  so,  there  rose  a  fair  little  wind 
behind  her,  which  helped  her  forward,  but  scarce 
raised  the  water  more  than  a  little  ripple. 

Still  she  swam  on,  and  it  was  some  three  hours 
ere  she  began  to  weary,  and  then  she  floated  on 
her  back  and  let  the  wind  and  water  have  its  way 
with  her ;  and  now  the  night  was  as  dark  as  it 
would  be  ere  dawn. 

Thus  it  went  for  another  hour,  that  whiles  she 
swam  on  and  whiles  she  floated;  and  now  her  heart 
began  to  fail  her,  and  the  great  water  was  no  longer 
unto  her  a  wet  highway,  but  a  terrible  gulf  over 
which  she  hung  fainting. 

Nevertheless  she  did  not  give  up  doing  what  she 
might:  she  floated  supine  a  long  while,  and  then, 
when  she  had  gathered  a  little  strength,  turned  over 
again  and  struck  out,  still  steering  her  by  the  stars. 
But  she  had  scarce  made  three  strokes  ere  her  arms 
met  something  hard  and  rough;  and  at  first  in  her 
forlornness  she  deemed  she  had  happened  on  some 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  447 

dread  water  monster,  and  for  terror  of  it  she  sank 
down  into  the  deep,  but  came  up  presently  bhnded 
and  breathless,  and  spread  abroad  her  arms,  and 
again  they  came  on  the  thing  aforesaid,  and  this 
time  found  that  it  was  nought  alive,  but  the  bole  of 
a  tree  sitting  high  out  of  the  water.  So  she  clomb 
up  on  to  it  with  what  might  she  had  left,  and  sat 
her  down,  and  saw  in  the  dim  light  that  it  was  big, 
and  that  there  was  a  fork  betwixt  two  limbs  reaching 
up  into  the  air,  and  she  thrust  herself  in  between 
these  two  limbs  and  embraced  one  of  them,  so  that 
she  might  scarce  tumble  off;  and  a  great  content 
and  happiness  came  over  her  that  she  had  thus  es- 
caped from  the  death  of  the  deep ;  but  therewithal 
weariness  overcame  her,  and  she  slept,  whether  she 
would  or  not ;  and  the  bole  went  on  over  the  waters 
no  slower  than  might  have  been  looked  for,  whether 
it  were  by  the  pushing  on  of  the  south  wind,  or  by 
the  hand  of  Weird  that  would  not  have  her  die. 

Long  she  slumbered,  for  when  she  awoke  it  was 
broad  day  and  the  sun  was  shining  high  in  the 
heavens,  and  she  cleared  her  eyes  and  looked  around, 
and  saw  before  her  the  land,  but  yet  blue  in  the 
offing.  And  the  tree-bole  was  yet  speeding  on  to- 
wards the  shore,  as  if  it  were  being  drawn  there 
by  some  bidding  of  might. 

Now  indeed  grew  Birdalone  happy,  and  she 
thought  if  any  had  helped  her  it  must  have  been 
the  wood-mother  once  again;  and  she  said  to  her- 
self that  she  should  soon  meet  with  that  helper; 
nor  heeded  she  that  she  was  naked  and  unfur- 
nished of  any  goods,  whereas  she  deemed  indeed 
that  it  was  but  to  ask  and  have  of  her  friend. 


448     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

For  a  while  indeed  she  knew  not  whither  she 
was  wending,  and  if  her  face  were  verily  turned  to- 
ward the  land  under  the  wood ;  but  as  the  morn- 
ing wore  the  blue  distance  began  to  grow  green, 
and  then  she  saw  that  a  great  wood  v/as  indeed  be- 
fore her,  and  thereafter,  as  it  cleared  yet  more,  she 
knew  the  land  she  was  nearing  for  the  meadows  of 
the  House  under  the  Wood,  and  it  was  not  long 
thence  ere  she  saw  clear  and  close  Green  Eyot  and 
Rocky  Eyot,  though  the  house  was  yet  hidden  from 
her  by  the  green  shores  of  the  first  of  those  two  isles. 

Shortly  to  tell  it,  her  tree-bole  floated  with  her 
past  the  outer  ness  of  Green  Eyot,  and  came  ashore 
in  that  same  sandy  bight  where  erst  she  was  wonted 
to  make  her  body  ready  for  the  water.  She  stepped 
ashore  all  glad  to  feel  the  firm  warm  sand  under- 
neath her  foot-soles,  and  as  one  drunk  with  joy  she 
was  when  the  tall  flowery  grass  of  the  latter  May 
was  caressing  her  legs  as  they  shook  the  seed-dust 
off  the  bents,  and  smote  the  fragrance  out  of  the 
blossoms  ;  and  she  might  scarce  at  first  lift  her  eyes 
from  their  familiar  loveliness.  Glad  she  was  indeed, 
but  exceeding  worn  and  weary  with  the  long  voy- 
age, and  all  the  longing  and  fear  and  hope  which 
had  encompassed  her  that  while.  She  lifted  up  her 
eyes  but  once,  and  saw  the  witch's  house  standing 
where  it  was  wont,  but  no  shape  of  man  moving 
about  it;  then  she  turned  aside  to  a  little  brake  of 
thorn  and  eglantine  in  the  meadow  hard  by,  and 
laid  her  down  on  the  grass  in  the  shade  thereof,  and 
almost  before  her  head  touched  the  ground  she  fell 
asleep,  and  slept  there  long  and  peacefully. 


CHAPTER  XVI.  BIRDALONEFINDETH 
HER  WITCH-MISTRESS  DEAD. 

IT  was  some  while  after  noon  when  she  wakened, 
and  the  sun  was  shining  bright  and  hot.  Some- 
what she  felt  the  burden  of  fear  upon  her,  even 
before  she  was  fully  come  to  herself,  and  knew  not 
what  it  was  that  she  feared ;  but  when  she  called 
to  mind  that  it  was  even  the  meeting  with  her  old 
mistress,  her  flesh  quaked  indeed  with  the  memory 
of  bygone  anguish,  but  valiantly  she  arose  and  faced 
the  dwelling  of  the  witch  despite  her  naked  help- 
lessness. As  she  went  she  looked  up  unto  it,  and 
saw  no  smoke  coming  from  the  chimney,  but  mar- 
velled little  thereat  since  it  was  not  yet  cooking- 
time  and  the  weather  hot.  She  drew  nigher,  and 
saw  someone  sitting  on  the  bench  without  the 
door  whereas  the  witch  was  wonted;  and  her  heart 
beat  quick,  for  she  saw  presently  that  it  was  none 
other  than  her  mistress.  Moreover,  near  to  her 
stood  three  of  the  milch-kine  lowing  uneasily  and 
as  in  reproach,  even  as  such  beasts  use  when  their 
udders  be  full  and  they  desire  to  be  milked. 

Birdalone  stayed  a  minute,  and  her  legs  nigh 
failed  her  for  fear,  and  then  because  of  the  very  fear 
she  hastened  on  till  she  came  within  ten  paces  of 
the  said  witch  ;  and  sore  she  missed  her  bow  and 
arrows,  and  the  cutting  blade  of  her  feigned  squire- 
hood,  lest  the  carline  should  arise  and  come  raging 
and  shrieking  at  her. 

Then  spake  Birdalone  in  no  feeble  voice,  and 
said  :   Dame,  I  am  come  back  unto  thee,  as  thou 

29 


450     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

seest,  in  even  such  plight  as  I  fled  from  thee ;  and 
I  have  a  mind  to  dwell  in  this  land :  what  sayest 
thou  ?  The  witch  neither  moved  nor  spake  at  her 
word  ;  and  the  kine,  who  had  held  silence  when 
she  first  came  up,  and  had  turned  from  her,  fell  to 
their  peevish  lowing  again. 

Birdalone  drew  a  step  nigher,  and  said  :  Dost 
thou  hear  me,  dame,  or  art  thou  exceeding  wroth 
with  me,  and  art  pondering  what  vengeance  thou 
wilt  take  on  me  ?  Still  no  answer  came  from  the 
carline,  and  the  kine  kept  on  lowing  now  and  again. 
Once  more  Birdalone  drew  nigher,  and  spake  loudly 
and  said :  Tell  me  at  least,  is  it  peace  between  us 
or  unpeace  ? 

But  now  when  she  looked  she  saw  that  the  eyes 
of  the  witch  were  open  and  staring,  and  her  lips 
white,  and  her  hands  hard  writhen  ;  and  she  cried 
out  and  said  :  Is  she  dead  ?  or  will  she  waken  pres- 
ently and  beat  me  ?  surely  she  is  dead.  And  she 
put  forth  her  hand  and  touched  her  face,  and  it  was 
stone-cold  ;  and  she  found  that  she  was  dead  be- 
yond any  question. 

Then  was  a  great  weight  lifted  off  her  heart,  and 
she  turned  about  and  looked  on  the  meadows  and 
up  to  the  trees  of  the  wood  and  down  to  the  rippling 
stream  before  her,  and  fair  and  sweet  and  joyous 
were  they  gotten  unto  her  ;  and  she  looked  at  the 
kine  who  were  drawing  up  towards  her,  and  she 
laughed  merrily,  and  went  to  the  out-house  hard  by 
and  took  forth  a  milking-pail  and  a  stool  and  fell  to 
milking  them  one  after  the  other,  and  the  beasts 
went  off  down  the  meadow  lowing  in  a  changed  voice. 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  45 1 

for  joy  to  wit,  this  time.  But  Birdalone  knelt  down 
and  drank  a  long  draught  of  the  sweet  warm  milk, 
and  then  arose  and  went  swiftly  into  the  house,  and 
saw  nought  changed  or  worsened  so  far  as  she  could 
see.  There  was  her  own  bed  in  the  corner,  and 
the  mistress's,  greater  and  much  fairer,  over  against 
it ;  and  the  hutch  by  the  door  wherein  the  victual 
was  kept :  she  opened  it  now,  and  found  three  loaves 
there  on  the  shelf,  and  a  meal-tub  down  below,  and 
she  took  a  loaf  and  broke  it  and  fell  to  eating  it  as 
she  walked  about  the  chamber.  There  was  her  bow 
standing  in  a  nook  beside  the  hutch,  and  the  quiver 
of  arrows  hanging  on  the  wall  above  it.  There  was 
the  settle  lying  athwart  from  the  hearth  ;  and  she 
smiled,  and  fitted  her  wrists  to  the  back  of  the  carven 
bear  which  made  its  elbow,  whereto  the  witch  was 
wont  to  tie  them  when  she  chastised  her. 

Then  she  went  to  the  coffers  that  stood  against 
the  wall  behind  it,  and  threw  up  the  lid  of  one  of 
them,  and  found  therein  a  smock  or  two  of  herown, 
yellowed  by  the  lapse  of  time,  and  her  old  grey  coat, 
ragged  as  it  was  when  last  she  wore  it,  and  now  some- 
what moth-eaten  withal  ;  and  she  drew  forth  both 
smocks  and  coat  and  laid  them  on  the  settle.  Then 
she  opened  another  coffer,  and  therein  were  gay 
and  gaudy  gowns  and  gear  of  the  witch's  wear  ;  but 
lying  amongst  them,  as  if  the  witch  had  worn  them 
also,  her  green  gown  and  shoon  which  her  own  hands 
had  broidered.  But  she  said:  Nay,  ye  have  been 
in  ill  company,  I  will  wear  you  not,  though  ye  be 
goodly,  at  least  not  till  ye  have  been  fumigated  and 
hallowed  for  me. 


452     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Therewith  she  turned  back  to  the  settle  and  did 
on  her  her  old  smock  and  her  ragged  grey  coat,  and 
said:  To-day  at  least  will  these  be  good  enough 
for  to-day's  work.  And  she  knit  her  brow  withal, 
and  walked  with  a  firm  step  out-a-doors  and  stood 
a  while  gazing  on  the  dead  corpse  of  her  enemy  ; 
and  she  thought  how  that  here  was  that  which  once 
was  so  great  a  thing  unto  her  for  the  shaping  of 
her  life-days,  and  which  so  oft  came  to  her  waking 
thoughts  after  she  had  escaped  from  her  hands, 
(though,  as  aforesaid,  she  seldom  dreamed  of  her 
a-night-time),  and  moreover  an  hour  ago  she  yet 
feared  it  so  sore  that  she  scarce  might  stand  for  the 
fear  of  it  ;  and  now  it  was  nought  but  a  carven  log 
unto  her. 

But  she  told  herself  that  the  work  was  to  be 
done;  so  she  dragged  the  body  away  thence,  and 
across  the  brook,  and  a  little  way  into  the  meadow, 
and  then  she  went  back  and  fetched  mattock  and 
spade  from  the  outhouse,  where  she  knew  they  lay, 
and  so  fell  to  digging  a  grave  for  the  corpse  of  her 
dead  terror.  But  howso  hard  she  might  toil,  she 
was  not  through  with  the  work  ere  night  began  to 
fall  on  her,  and  she  had  no  mind  to  go  on  with  her 
digging  by  night.  Wherefore  she  went  back  into 
the  house,  and  lighted  candles,  whereof  was  no  lack, 
and  made  her  supper  of  the  bread  and  the  milk ;  and 
then  sat  pondering  on  her  life  that  had  been  till 
the  passion  arose  in  her  bosom,  and  the  tears  burst 
out,  and  long  she  wept  for  desire  of  others  and  pity 
for  herself  Then  she  went  to  the  bed  she  had  been 
erst  wont  to,  and  laid  her  down  and  fell  asleep. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  453 

And  her  mistress  walked  not,  nor  meddled  with 
her  peace  ;  nor  did  Birdalone  so  much  as  dream  ot 
her,  but  of  her  mother  and  Master  Jacobus  in  the 
fair  city  of  the  Five  Crafts  ;  and  in  her  sleep  she 
wept  for  thinking  of  them. 


CHAPTER  XVII.  BIRDALONE  LAY- 
ETH  TO  EARTH  THE  BODY  OF  THE 
WITCH,  AND  FINDETH  THE  SEND- 
ING  BOAT    BROKEN    UP. 

WHEN  morning  was,  Birdalone  awoke,  and 
felt  a  weight  upon  her  heart,  and  called 
to  mind  the  task  which  lay  before  her. 
So  she  arose  and  clad  herself,  and  went  straight  to 
the  grave  begun,  and  toiled  hard  till  she  had  digged 
it  out  deep,  and  sithence  she  dragged  the  witch 
thereinto  and  heaped  the  earth  upon  her.  Then 
she  bathed  her  in  the  nighest  pool  of  the  brook, 
and  went  back  into  the  house  and  made  her  break- 
fast on  the  bread  and  milk,  and  it  was  then  about 
mid-morning.  Thereafter  she  went  about  the  house, 
and  saw  to  the  baking  of  bread,  and  so  out  to  the 
meadow  to  see  to  the  kine  and  the  goats,  and  then 
stored  the  milk  for  making  butter  and  cheese,  and 
did  in  all  wise  as  if  she  were  to  dwell  long  in  that 
stead ;  but  thereafter  she  rested  her  body,  whiles 
her  thought  went  wide  about.  But  she  said  to  her- 
self that  she  would  not  go  up  to  the  Oak  of  Tryst 
to  meet  the  wood-mother  that  day,  but  would  abide 
the  night,  in  case  aught  befell  that  she  should  tell 
her. 

But  when  the  sun  was  getting  low  she  roused  her- 
self and  went  out,  and  walked  about  the  meadow, 
and  hearkened  to  the  birds'  song,  and  watched  the 
kine  and  the  goats  as  they  fed  down  the  pasture ; 
and  now  a  soft  content  came  over  her,  that  all  this 
was  free  unto  her  to  hold  in  peace,  and  to  take  her 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  455 

pleasure  in,  as  much  as  one  lone  child  of  Adam 
might  do. 

At  last  she  wandered  down  to  the  sandy  bight  of 
the  lake  and  stood  gazing  on  Green  Eyot,  where 
the  osiers  and  willows  were  grown  wild  and  long 
in  all  these  years,  and  she  said  that  she  would  swim 
over  to  it  on  the  morrow.  But  now  her  feet  took 
her  eastward  thence  toward  the  haven  of  the  Send- 
ing Boat  amongst  the  alders  ;  for  in  her  heart  she 
would  fain  know  if  there  were  any  tidings  for  her. 

So  she  went  softly  along  the  path  by  the  water, 
where  she  had  sped  so  swiftly  that  last  time,  and 
came  at  last  to  the  creek-side,  and  looked  down  on 
to  the  water  somewhat  timorously.  There  then 
she  saw  what  she  deemed  was  the  very  boat  itself 
lying  as  she  had  known  it ;  but  when  she  looked 
again  she  saw  that  it  lay  from  stem  to  stern  all  loose 
staves  with  the  water  betwixt,  and  the  thwarts  and 
ribs  all  sundered  and  undone,  so  that  never  again 
might  it  float  upon  the  waves.  Then  she  said  in 
a  soft  voice  :  Art  thou  dead  then,  as  thy  mistress 
is  dead  ?  was  it  not  so  that  thou  wert  at  the  point 
of  death,  and  she  also,  when  thou  failedst  me  at  the 
Isle  of  Increase  Unsought  ?  No  voice  came  to  her 
as  she  spake  ;  and  she  said  again  :  Must  I  then 
bury  thee  as  I  have  buried  thy  mistress  ?  Nay,  that 
will  I  not  until  thou  compellest  me ;  belike  in  a 
short  while  little  of  the  staves  of  thee  shall  be  left 
now  that  the  life  is  out  of  thee.  Let  thy  ghost  and 
hers  foregather  if  ye  will. 

As  she  spake  the  last  word,  she  saw  a  stir  about 
the  stern  which  lay  furthest  in  up  the  creek,  and 


456     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

while  she  quaked  with  failing  heart,  lo!  a  big  ser- 
pent, mouldy  and  hairy,  grey  and  brown-flecked, 
came  forth  from  under  the  stern  and  went  into  the 
water  and  up  the  bank  and  so  into  the  dusk  of  the 
alder-wood.  Birdalone  stood  awhile  pale  and  heart- 
sick for  fear,  and  when  her  feet  felt  life  in  them,  she 
turned  and  stole  away  back  again  into  the  merry 
green  mead  and  the  low  beams  of  the  sun,  ponder- 
ing whether  this  evil  creature  were  the  fetch  of  the 
wight  who  drave  the  ferry  under  the  blood  of  the 
sender. 

So  she  hastened  back  again  to  the  house,  and  lit 
a  fire  on  the  hearth,  and  fell  to  cooking  her  some- 
what of  grout  to  her  supper ;  and  she  watched  the 
fire,  thinking  withal :  Now  if  some  poor  soul  be 
abroad,  they  may  see  the  smoke  and  seek  hither, 
and  I  may  comfort  them  with  food  and  shelter  and 
converse  ;  or  when  night  darkens,  they  may  see  the 
litten  windows  and  come  to  me  ;  wherefore  shall 
the  fire  burn  yet  and  the  candles  be  lighted,  for  as 
warm  as  is  the  evening,  even  as  if  it  were  Yule-tide 
and  the  snow  deep  without,  and  the  wind  howling 
in  the  woodland  trees.  And  therewith  she  wept 
for  longing  of  them  that  she  loved. 

But  in  a  little  she  dried  her  tears,  and  reproached 
herself  for  her  much  softness  ;  and  she  ate  her  sup- 
per when  she  had  lighted  a  candle  (for  it  was  now 
dark),  and  again  sat  looking  at  the  hearth,  till  she 
said  :  Now  am  I  getting  soft  again,  and  who  knows 
but  my  softness  may  tempt  the  ghosts  to  come 
in  to  me.  I  will  give  my  hands  somewhat  to 
do. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  457 

Therewith  her  eye  caught  sight  of  the  rents  and 
rags  of  her  old  grey  gown,  and  she  smiled  some- 
what ruefully  as  she  called  to  mind  her  gallant 
knight's  array,  which  lay  now  on  the  shore  of  the 
evil  and  ruined  isle  ;  and  her  goodly  attire  of  the 
days  of  the  Five  Crafts ;  and  the  rich  raiment 
wherein  her  friends  of  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  had 
clad  her.  Then  she  arose  and  sought  needle  and 
thread  and  some  remnants  of  green  cloth,  and  did 
off  the  ragged  coat  and  fell  to  patching  and  mend- 
ing it,  and  so  sat  at  her  work  in  smock-sewing  till 
the  night  was  old  and  she  was  weary  and  sleep  over- 
came her,  and  she  lay  down  in  her  bed  and  slept 
dreamlessly  till  the  sun  was  high  next  morning. 


CHAPTER  XVIII.  THE  WOOD-MOTH- 
ER COMETH  TO  BIRDALONE  AND 
HEARETH  HER  STORY. 

NOW  Birdalone  arose  and  bathed  her  and 
broke  her  fast,  and  then  went  about  her 
work  with  the  beasts  and  the  dairy ;  but 
all  that  time  seemed  long  to  her  till  she  had  bow 
in  hand  and  quiver  on  back,  and  was  wending  her 
way  to  the  Oak  of  Tryst ;  and  swift  were  her  feet, 
and  her  heart  beat  quick  with  hope  of  pleasure. 

Forsooth  no  long  tarrying  had  she,  for  scarce 
had  she  set  her  down  beneath  the  oak,  ere  the  wood- 
mother  came  forth  from  the  thicket  even  as  the 
first  time  when  Birdalone  saw  her,  and  presently 
she  had  her  arms  about  Birdalone  and  was  kissing 
and  clipping  her.  Then  they  sat  down  together 
in  the  shade  of  the  great  tree,  and  the  wood-mother 
made  much  of  her  friend  with  few  words  and  those 
but  simple,  while  Birdalone  wept  for  joy. 

At  last  spake  Birdalone :  Wood-mother,  my 
dear,  I  look  in  thy  face,  and  I  see  thee  that  thou 
art  nowise  changed,  so  that  thou  callest  to  my 
mind  the  Birdalone  that  met  thee  here  when  she 
was  straying  from  the  House  of  Captivity  like  to 
a  bird  with  a  string  to  its  leg. 

Habundia  smiled  on  her  and  said  :  So  it  is  that 
now  thou  lookest  older  than  I.  Rounder  and 
fuller  is  thy  body,  and  thy  limbs  greater  and  fairer, 
and  thy  flesh  sleeker;  lovelier  art  thou  in  all  wise, 
and  such  as  I  have  thought  of  thee  during  these 
years,  save  that  thy  face  is  grown  wiser  and  sadder 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  459 

than  might  be  looked  for.  Mother,  she  said,  I  am 
grown  older  than  I  should  be  by  the  tale  of  the 
years,  for  I  have  had  joy  and  grief,  and  grief  and 
joy,  and  grief  again ;  and  now  that  the  years  have 
worn,  the  grief  abideth  and  the  joy  hath  departed, 
save  this  joy  of  thee  and  the  day  of  the  meeting  I 
have  so  often  thought  of. 

Said  the  wood-wife :  Were  I  to  hear  the  story 
of  thee,  I  deem  it  most  like  that  I  would  fain  buy 
thy  joy  with  thy  grief,  both  that  which  has  been 
and  that  which  is  to  come.  And  now  I  will  ask 
thee  right  out  to  tell  me  all  thy  tale,  as  much  as 
thou  canst ;  and  all  thou  canst  tell  to  me,  who  am 
thine  other  self:  and  I  wot  moreover  that  thou 
hast  not  told  of  me  to  any  whom  thou  hast 
met  in  the  world  since  we  were  last  together  :  is  it 
not  so  ?  In  faith  and  in  troth  so  it  is,  said  Bird- 
alone.  Said  Habundia,  after  she  had  looked  hard 
on  Birdalone  a  while :  Now  there  is  this  I  find  in 
thee,  that  though  thou  callest  me  wood-mother 
still,  thou  art  not  my  daughter  as  thou  wert  ere- 
while,  nor  I  thy  mother  ;  and  I  know  not  whether 
to  be  glad  or  sorry  thereof,  since  thou  art  even  as 
much  my  friend  as  ever  thou  wert.  But  much  do 
I  rejoice  herein  that  thou  hast  not  told  any  one 
soul  of  me. 

Said  Birdalone  :  I  must  tell  thee  that  part  of  the 
tale  I  shall  tell  thee  is  how  I  have  found  my  mother 
in  the  flesh,  and  loved  her  sorely  ;  and  then  I  lost 
her  again,  for  she  is  dead. 

Quoth  the  wood-wife,  smiling  on  her  lovingly  : 
Then  should  I  be  even  more  thy  mother  than  erst 


460     THE  WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

I  was  :  there  will  be  something  else  in  thy  tale, 
sweetling. 

Then  Birdalone  flushed  very  red,  and  she  smiled 
piteously  in  Habundia's  face  ;  but  then  she  put 
up  her  hands  to  hide  the  change  therein  which  the 
anguish  of  longing  wrought,  and  her  shoulders 
shook  and  her  bosom  heaved,  and  she  wept  bit- 
terly ;  but  the  wood-wife  still  looked  on  her  smil- 
ing, and  said  softly  at  last :  Yea,  how  sweet  it  were 
to  be  grieved  with  thy  pain. 

But  in  a  while  Birdalone  grew  calm  again  and 
the  very  smile  blossomed  out  in  her  face,  and  they 
kissed  together.  Then  Habundia  rose  up  and 
looked  on  her,  and  said  at  last  and  laughed  out 
withal :  One  thing  I  must  needs  say,  that  thou  hast 
not  fetched  thee  raiment  of  price  from  the  knight- 
hood and  the  kings'  houses  ;  or  have  I  not  seen  thy 
grey  coat  of  old  time,  while  thou  wert  living  amidst 
the  witch's  cruelty  ?  Yea  forsooth,  said  Birdalone  ; 
thou  needest  not  to  ask  this.  Verily  not,  said  Ha- 
bundia, nor  why  thou  art  not  clad  in  the  fair  green 
gown  which  thou  didst  broider ;  for  whiles  I  have 
seen  the  witch  flaunting  it  on  the  wooden  ugly  body 
of  her,  and  thou  wouldst  not  wear  it  after  she  had 
cursed  it  with  her  foulness.  Is  it  not  so  ?  Yea,  it 
is  even  so,  said  Birdalone  ;  dost  thou  love  me  the 
less  therefor  ?  Habundia  laughed  again  :  Were  I 
a  man  of  Adam's  sons,  said  she,  I  might  make  thee 
many  words  on  the  seemliness  of  thy  short  coat,  and 
the  kindness  of  it,  that  it  will  be  for  ever  slipping 
off'one  or  other  of  thy  shoulders.  But  now  am  I  at 
least  enough  thy  mother,  and  thou  art  dwelling  even 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  461 

so  much  in  my  house,  that  the  next  time  we  meet 
(and  that  shall  be  to-morrow)  I  shall  fetch  thee  rai- 
ment which  shall  make  us  forget  that  thou  earnest 
back  again  to  this  land  as  naked  as  thou  didst 
depart  thence. 

Birdalone  reddened  and  hung  down  her  head,  but 
the  wood-mother  sat  down  beside  her  and  kissed 
her  and  said  :  But  now  forget  all  save  thy  tale,  and 
tell  all  as  closely  as  thou  mayest,  for  I  would  lose 
nought  thereof.  Yea,  said  Birdalone  ;  and  where 
shall  I  begin  ?  Said  Habundia  :  I  know  nought 
thereof  save  the  beginning,  that  thou  fledst  away 
naked  and  escaped  the  witch  ;  and  the  ending,  to 
wit,  that  the  Sending  Boat  failed  thee  at  the  last  of 
the  Wonder  Isles,  and  that  thou  calledst  on  me  not 
wholly  in  vain,  whereas  the  witch  was  dead,  and 
therefore  there  was  nought  to  stay  me  from  send- 
ing thee  one  of  my  trees  and  the  wight  thereof 
(whom  belike  I  may  show  to  thee  one  day)  to  save 
thee  from  the  bottom  of  the  deep  water. 

At  that  word  Birdalone  threw  herself  on  the 
wood-wife  and  clipped  and  kissed  her,  and  thanked 
her  for  the  helping  with  all  the  dearest  words  she 
might.  But  the  wood-mother  laughed  for  joy,  and 
stroked  her  cheeks  and  said  :  Now  I  deem  thee  my 
daughteragain,  whereas  thou  thankestmewith  such 
sweet  passion  for  doing  to  thee  as  a  kind  mother 
needs  must  withoutany  thought  thereof.  And  I  bid 
thee,  my  dear,  never  again  to  go  so  far  from  me  as 
that  I  may  not  easily  help  thee  and  comfort  thee 
from  out  of  my  realm  wherein  I  am  mighty.  And 
now  tell  me  all  in  thy  dear  speech. 


462     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Therewith  Birdalone  began  her  story  without 
more  ado,  even  as  ye  have  heard  it  afore.  Yea  and 
many  more  things  than  we  can  set  down  did  she  tell, 
for  full  filled  she  was  with  the  wisdom  of  the  wood. 
And  between  whiles  the  wood-mother  fed  her  with 
dainty  meat  and  drink,  such  as  Birdalone  had  never 
erst  tasted  the  like  of.  And  by  then  she  had  got  so 
far  as  her  flight  from  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought, 
the  sun  was  set  and  the  twilight  begun.  And  the 
wood-wife  said  :  Now  shalt  thou  go  home  to  thine 
house  ;  and  have  no  fear  of  witch  or  evil  thing,  for 
I  am  not  far  from  thee  and  will  watch  over  thee. 
Sweet  is  thy  tale,  my  daughter,  and  dear  are  thy 
she-friends  ;  and  if  ever  it  may  be  that  I  may  do 
them  any  pleasure,  fain  were  I  ;  and  that  especially 
to  thy  Viridis,  who  meseemeth  is  both  sweet  and 
wise  even  as  thou  thyself  art.  Nay,  dost  thou  be- 
grudge my  loving  her  ?  Nay,  nay,  said  Birdalone, 
laughing  ;  but  I  rejoice  in  it.  And  hereafter  when 
I  tell  thee  how  sorely  they  paid  for  helping  me,  I 
will  bid  thee  to  love  them  yet  more  than  now  thou 
dost.  Therewith  they  parted,  and  Birdalone  came 
to  her  house  ;  and  on  the  way  she  made  as  it  were 
a  feigned  tale  in  mockery  of  her  old  trouble,  that 
there  would  be  the  witch-mistress  awaiting  her  to 
whip  her.  So  that  when  she  came  to  the  door  she 
was  half  frighted  with  her  own  mock,  lest  the  witch 
might  now  at  last  have  taken  to  walking. 

But  all  was  quiet  when  she  entered  with  the  last 
of  the  twilight,  and  she  rested  that  night  in  all  peace, 
as  in  the  best  of  her  days  in  the  Five  Crafts. 


CHAPTER  XIX.  HABUNDIA  HIDETH 
BIRDALONE'S  NAKEDNESS  WITH  FA- 
ERY RAIMENT. 

NEXT  morning  Birdalone  tarried  about  the 
house  as  little  a  while  as  she  might,  and 
then  went  hastening  up  to  the  wood ;  and 
when  she  came  within  sight  of  the  Trysting  Tree, 
lo!  there  was  Habundia  before  her,  and  the  hands 
of  her  busy  turning  over  goodly  raiment,  so  that 
it  was  well-nigh  as  if  the  days  had  gone  back  to 
the  time  of  the  Captivity,  and  the  sitter  under  the 
oak  was  Birdalone  herself  dealing  with  her  half- 
finished  gown. 

Joyously  they  met  and  embraced  each  other, 
and  then  spake  the  wood-wife  :  Now,  thou  darling 
of  the  world,  I  have  been  no  worse  than  my  word, 
and  if  thou  durst  wear  web  of  the  Faery  thou  shalt 
presently  be  clad  as  goodly  as  ever  thou  wert  down 
there  amongst  the  knighthood  ;  and  then  thy  tale, 
my  dear,  and,  if  it  may  be,  the  wisdom  of  the  barren 
wood-wife  set  thereto. 

And  therewith  she  laid  on  Birdalone's  out- 
stretched arms  the  raiment  she  had  brought  with 
her,  and  it  was  as  if  the  sunbeam  had  thrust  through 
the  close  leafage  of  the  oak,  and  made  its  shadow 
nought  a  space  about  Birdalone,  so  gleamed  and 
glowed  in  shifty  brightness  the  broidery  of  the 
gown  ;  and  Birdalone  let  it  fall  to  earth,  and  passed 
over  her  hands  and  arms  the  fine  smock  sewed  in 
yellow  and  white  silk,  so  that  the  web  thereof 
seemed   of  mingled    cream    and    curd ;    and    she 


464     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

looked  on  the  shoon  that  lay  beside  the  gown,  that 
were  done  so  nicely  and  finely  that  the  work  was 
as  the  feather-robe  of  a  beauteous  bird,  whereof  one 
scarce  can  say  whether  it  be  bright  or  grey,  thou- 
sand-hued  or  all  simple  of  colour.  Birdalone  quiv- 
ered for  joy  of  the  fair  things,  and  crowed  in  her 
speech  as  she  knelt  before  Habundia  to  thank  her: 
then  in  a  twinkling  had  she  done  off  her  beggar's 
raiment,  and  then  the  smock  clung  about  her  dar- 
ling nakedness,  and  next  the  gown  was  shimmering 
all  over  her,  and  the  golden  girdle  embraced  her 
loins  as  though  it  loved  them  worthily;  and  Birda- 
lone looked  to  the  wood  round  about  her  and 
laughed,  while  Habundia  lay  in  her  place  and 
smiled  upon  her  with  gentle  loving-kindness. 

But  in  a  little  while  was  Birdalone  sobered ;  for 
the  thought  of  how  fair  she  should  look  to  the 
eyes  of  her  beloved  when  she  was  shown  unto  him 
on  the  day  of  days,  thrust  her  light  and  eager 
pleasure  aside  ;  and  she  took  up  her  shoes  from 
the  ground  (for  she  had  not  done  them  on),  and 
sat  down  beside  the  wood-wife  and  fell  a-toying 
with  the  marvel  of  them  ;  and  thus  without  more 
ado  began  her  tale  again,  whereas  she  had  left  it 
last  even,  when  she  had  told  of  how  the  Sending 
Boat  was  speeding  her  over  the  waters  toward  the 
Isle  of  the  Young  and  the  Old. 


CHAPTER  XX.  BIRDALONE  TELL- 
ETH  HABUNDIA  OF  HER  LOVE  FOR 
ARTHUR,  AND  GETTETH  FROM  HER 
PROMISE  OF  HELP  THEREIN. 

LONG  they  sat  there  that  day,  and  until  the 
sun  was  down,  and  by  then  had  Birdalone 
but  little  to  tell  of  her  story,  for  she  was 
gotten  therein  to  the  days  of  the  Five  Crafts. 
Many  times  had  she  wept  and  turned  to  Habun- 
dia  for  solace  as  she  told,  not  without  shame,  but 
without  any  covering  up,  all  the  tale  of  her  love 
for  Arthur  the  Black  Squire,  and  how  she  was 
surprised  by  the  love  of  him,  and  of  his  wisdom 
and  grace  and  loveliness.  And  the  wood-mother 
was  ever  as  sweet  and  kind  unto  her  as  could  be ; 
yet  might  another  than  a  lover  have  seen  that  much 
of  all  this  was  strange  unto  her,  and  she  looked 
upon  Birdalone  as  a  child  who  has  broken  her  toy, 
and  is  hard  to  comfort  for  the  loss  of  it,  though 
there  be  a  many  more  in  the  world.  But  when  it 
grew  dusk  as  aforesaid,  and  it  was  time  to  part, 
she  spake  to  Birdalone,  and  said  :  True  it  is,  my 
child,  that  thou  hast  lived  long  in  these  six  years' 
time ;  neither  do  I  wonder  at  the  increase  of  thy 
beauty,  and  the  majesty  thereof;  for  fair  is  the  life 
thou  hast  lived,  although  thou  hast  been  grieved 
and  tormented  by  it  at  whiles.  And  now  I  know 
what  it  is  for  which  thou  longest ;  and  herein  again 
will  I  play  the  mother  unto  thee,  and  seek  about 
to  fetch  thee  that  thou  wouldst  have ;  so  be  not 
over-anxious  or  troubled ;  and  thou   mayest  be 

30 


466     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

good  herein,  as  my  fair  child  should  be ;  for  this 
I  have  noted  in  thee,  that  Love  is  not  so  tyran- 
nous a  master  but  that  his  servants  may  whiles 
think  of  other  matters,  and  so  solace  their  souls, 
that  they  may  live  despite  of  all. 

Now  was  Birdalone  arisen,  and  stood  before  her 
friend  confused  and  blushing.  But  Habundia  put 
her  two  hands  on  her  shoulders  and  kissed  her,  and 
said  :  Go  home  now  and  sleep,  and  come  again  to- 
morrow and  let  us  hear  the  last  of  thy  tale ;  and 
when  that  is  done,  maybe  I  shall  be  able  to  do 
something  for  thine  avail. 

So  they  parted,  and  on  the  morrow  Birdalone 
came  again  and  told  the  remnant  of  her  story, 
which  was  not  so  long  now  that  the  Black  Squire 
was  out  of  it.  And  when  she  had  done,  Habundia 
kept  silence  awhile,  and  then  she  said  :  One  thing 
I  will  tell  thee,  that  whereas  erewhile  it  was  but 
seldom  indeed  that  any  son  of  Adam  might  be  seen 
in  the  woodland  here,  of  late,  that  is,  within  the 
last  three  years,  there  be  many  such  amongst  us  ; 
and  to  our  deeming  they  be  evil  beasts,  more  piti- 
less and  greedy  than  any  bear ;  and  but  that  we 
have  nought  to  do  with  them,  for  they  fear  us  and 
flee  from  us,  we  should  have  destroyed  them  one 
and  all.  And  now  that  I  have  heard  all  thy  story, 
it  seemeth  unto  me  not  so  unlike  but  these  may 
be  the  remnants  of  the  bands  of  the  Red  Hold, 
and  that  they  have  drifted  hither  fleeing  before  the 
might  of  thy  friends  of  the  knighthood.  Where- 
fore now,  trust  me  that  I  will  look  into  this,  but 
I  must  needs  be  away  from  here  for  a  little ;  so 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  467 

hold  thy  soul  in  patience  though  thou  hear 
nought  of  me,  and  dwell  quietly  at  home  for  seven 
days'  space,  and  then  come  hither  and  find  me, 
farewell  now,  my  child  ! 

So  they  kissed  and  departed  ;  and  Birdalone 
went  home  to  the  house,  and  wore  the  days  there- 
after doing  what  was  needful  about  the  stead,  and 
wandering  through  the  meadows,  and  swimming 
the  waters  about  Green  Eyot ;  and  the  days  were 
not  unrestful  unto  her. 


CHAPTER  XXI.  HOW  THE  WOOD- 
WIFE  ENTERED  THE  COT,  AND  A 
WONDER  THAT    BEFELL  THEREON. 

BUT  when  it  was  the  sixth  day  since  those 
two  had  met,  Birdalone  arose  in  the  morn- 
ing and  stood  in  the  door  of  the  house,  and 
she  looked  toward  the  bent  which  went  up  to  the 
wood  and  saw  one  coming  down  it,  and  knew  it 
for  Habundia  clad  in  her  huntress'  raiment  and 
bearing  something  over  the  left  arm,  for  her  bow 
was  in  her  right  hand.  So  Birdalone  ran  to  meet 
her,  and  embraced  and  kissed  her,  and  was  merry 
over  her,  and  said  :  Dear  mother,  thou  farest  far 
from  thy  fastness  to-day.  Said  Habundia  :  There 
is  nought  in  the  meadows  now  save  the  neat  and 
the  goats  and  thou  ;  of  none  of  that  folk  am  I 
afraid.  But  mayhappen  thou  shalt  be  afraid  to 
come  with  me  into  the  depths  of  the  wild-wood, 
for  thither  would  I  lead  thee.  I  will  be  afraid  of 
nought  with  thee  beside  me,  said  Birdalone.  But 
come  now  and  look  upon  the  house  that  I  have 
won  for  me.  And  she  took  her  hand  and  led  her 
along ;  and  the  wood-wife  said  no  more  till  they 
were  across  the  brook  and  standing  by  the  porch. 
Then  said  Birdalone  :  Thou  hast  a  green  gown 
over  thine  arm  ;  is  that  also  for  me  ?  Yea,  certes, 
said  Habundia ;  the  old  rag  which  thou  hast  on 
thee,  and  which  thou  lovest  so  sore,  is  not  fine 
enough  for  my  company  ;  and  the  glitter-gown  I 
gave  thee  may  be  too  fine  for  the  thorns  and  the 
briars,  and  moreover  thou  mayst  be  over-easily 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  469 

seen  if  thou  bear  that  broidered  sunshine  mid  the 
boughs.  Wherefore  go  in  now  and  do  on  this 
other  coat,  though  the  faery  have  made  it,  and 
then  come  out  to  me  with  thy  bow  and  thy  qui- 
ver, and  I  shall  find  thee  sandal-shoon  and  girdle 
withal. 

Nay,  wood-mother,  said  Birdalone,  hallow  my 
house  by  entering  it,  and  eat  a  morsel  with  me 
and  drink  the  wine  of  the  horned  folk  ere  we  go 
our  ways. 

Habundia  shook  her  head  and  knit  her  brows 
somewhat  as  she  looked  hard  on  the  house  ;  then 
she  said  :  I  know  not,  Adam's  daughter  ;  I  have 
little  to  do  with  houses,  and  doubt  if  a  house  be 
safe  for  me.  And  this  one  that  the  witch  builded  ! 
and  belike  she  buried  some  human  being  at  one 
of  its  four  corners.  Tell  me,  fair  child,  sawest 
thou  ever  here  at  night-tide  the  shape  of  a  young- 
ling crowned  with  a  garland  straying  about  the 
house  ^ 

Nay,  never  at  all,  said  Birdalone.  Said  the 
wood-wife :  Then  maybe  thou  hast  hallowed  it 
with  the  wisdom  and  love  of  thee,  and  I  may  ven- 
ture ;  and  moreover  I  note  that  it  is  all  builded  of 
trees  and  the  grass  of  the  earth  ;  and  thou  art  free 
to  use  them  by  my  leave.  But  if  aught  befall  of 
my  coming  under  thy  roof,  heed  it  not  too  much, 
but  think,  whatsoever  my  aspect  may  be,  I  am 
thy  wood-mother  and  wisdom-mother  that  loveth 
thee.  And  I  bid  thee  also  wish  with  all  thy  might 
that  my  aspect  may  not  change  to  thee.  Also,  if 
I   eat,   thou  wert  best  not   to  sign  the  meat  as 


470     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Adam's  sons  are  wont.  Lead  in  then ;  for  now 
am  I  grown  wilful,  and  will  enter  whatever  betide. 

Birdalone  marvelled  at  those  words,  but  she  fell 
to  wishing  strongly  that  her  friend  might  not  lose 
her  lovely  youthful  shape  either  then  or  ever,  and 
she  took  her  hand,  which  trembled  somewhat,  and 
led  her  over  the  threshold ;  and  when  they  were 
under  the  roof  herseemed  that  the  wood-mother 
dwindled  in  a  wondrous  way,  though  her  face  was 
as  sweet  and  her  limbs  as  shapely  as  ever  ;  and  she 
laughed  shrilly  yet  sweetly,  and  spake  in  a  thin 
clear  voice :  Birdalone,  my  dear,  wish  strongly,  wish 
strongly!  though  thou  shalt  see  nothing  worse  of 
me  than  this.  And  she  was  scarce  three  feet  high, 
but  as  pretty  as  a  picture. 

Thereat  indeed  was  Birdalone  affrighted,  but  she 
wished  all  she  might,  and  stooped  down  to  kiss  this 
little  creature ;  and  therewith  again  the  wood-wife 
seemed  to  wax  again  as  great  and  tall  as  ever  she 
was,  and  her  voice  came  full  and  strong  again,  as 
she  laughed  and  said  :  Now  is  it  all  over  for  this 
time,  and  I  see  how  well  thou  lovest  me ;  and  I 
pray  thee  love  me  no  less  for  this  wonder  thou  hast 
seen  in  me.  But  now  it  were  better  that  I  never 
go  under  a  roof  again.  And  she  took  her  arms 
about  Birdalone  and  clipped  her  lovingly ;  and  glad 
was  Birdalone  to  feel  her  so  strong  and  solid  again. 

Then  they  sat  to  the  board  and  ate  a  simple 
meal  of  bread  and  cheese  and  wood-berries,  and 
drank  milk  withal ;  and  the  wood-mother  was 
merry,  and  the  smiles  danced  over  her  face  as  she 
looked  on  Birdalone  with  all  loving-kindness,  so 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  47 1 

that  Birdalone  wondered  what  was  toward ;  but  so 
light-hearted  and  happy  she  grew,  that  she  deemed 
it  might  be  nought  save  good. 

But  when  they  had  eaten,  then  Birdalone  did  off 
her  old  coat,  which  she  said  was  meet  enough  for 
her  daily  toil,  and  did  on  the  fair  green  hunting- 
gown  and  the  sandal-shoon,  and  girt  her  with  the 
fair  girdle  which  Habundia  had  fetched  her,  and 
drew  up  the  laps  of  her  gown  therethrough  till  her 
legs  were  all  free  of  the  skirts.  And  Habundia 
looked  on  her,  and  laughed  and  said:  Now  are 
these  white  and  smooth  legs  as  bad  as  the  gleam- 
gown  for  the  lying  hid  ;  but  it  may  no  better 
be,  and  thou  must  draw  thy  skirts  down  and 
stumble,  if  needs  must  be,  when  we  come  to  the 
ambushment. 

Birdalone  reddened  as  she  laughed  at  the  word, 
and  took  down  her  bow  and  hung  her  quiver  at  her 
back  and  thrust  her  sharp  knife  into  her  girdle,  and 
forth  they  went  both  of  them,  and  were  presently 
past  the  bent  which  went  up  from  the  meadows  and 
in  amongst  Habundia's  trees. 


CHAPTER  XXII.  BIRDALONE  WEND- 
ETH  THE  WILDWOOD  IN  FELLOW- 
SHIP  WITH    HABUNDIA. 

NOW  as  they  went  their  ways  Hghtly  through 
the  wood,  spake  Habundia  and  said :  Bird- 
alone,  my  child,  fair  is  the  gold  ring  with 
the  sapphire  stone  that  the  third  finger  of  thy  right 
hand  beareth  ;  seldom  have  I  seen  so  fair  a  stone 
as  that  deep  blue  one  ;  hangeth  any  tale  thereby  ? 
Said  Birdalone  :  Did  I  not  tell  thee  thereof,  wood- 
mother,  how  that  my  beloved  who  is  lost  gave  it 
unto  me  the  very  last  time  I  saw  him,  woe  worth 
the  while  ?  Nay,  said  Habundia,  I  mind  not  the 
tale.  But  deemest  thou  he  would  know  it  again  if 
he  saw  it  ?  Yea,  surely,  said  Birdalone,  hanging 
her  head ;  for  when  first  he  gave  it,  the  gift  was 
not  to  me,  but  to  another  woman.  And  she  held 
her  peace,  and  went  on  with  hanging  head  and  all 
the  glee  faded  out  of  her  a  while. 

At  last  she  turned  to  Habundia,  and  said :  I  have 
now  bethought  me  to  ask  thee  whither  we  be  go- 
ing and  on  what  errand ;  for  at  first  I  was  so  glad 
at  heart,  I  know  not  why,  and  it  was  so  merry  to 
be  wending  the  wood  with  thee  freely,  that  I  had 
no  thought  in  me  as  to  whither  and  wherefore. 
But  now  wilt  thou  tell  me  ? 

Said  the  wood-wife:  How  if  I  were  to  tell  thee 
we  were  going  a-hunting .''  Birdalone  said  :  Then 
I  should  ask  thee  what  like  the  quarry  were. 
And  suppose  it  were  men  ?  said  the  wood-wife. 
Birdalone  turned  somewhat  pale.    My  mother,  she 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  473 

said,  if  we  be  going  against  some  of  those  men  of 
the  Red  Bands,  I  am  not  happy  over  it.  I  am  no 
warrior,  and  fear  strokes.  Said  Habundia,  laugh- 
ing :  Yet  art  thou  a  fell  archer ;  and  thou  mayest 
shoot  from  an  ambush  of  the  thick  leaves,  since 
June  is  in  to-day.  But  neither  would  I  slay  or  hurt 
any  man,  said  Birdalone,  but  it  were  to  save  me 
from  present  death. 

Habundia  looked  on  her  with  a  sly  smile  and 
said  :  Well  maybe  though  we  take  cover  and  get 
within  wind  of  our  quarry  thou  shalt  not  need  to 
speed  an  arrow  to  him.  Have  patience  therefore. 
For  this  is  a  strange  beast  which  I  have  marked 
down ;  he  is  not  ill  to  look  on,  and  his  voice,  which 
we  may  well  hearken,  for  whiles  he  singeth,  is  rather 
sweet  than  surly.  What  meanest  thou,  mother? 
said  Birdalone,  growing  red  and  then  paler  yet; 
what  man  is  it  ?  since  thy  calling  him  a  beast  is  a 
jest,  is  it  not  ? 

Nay,  said  Habundia,  I  neither  name  him  nor 
know  him  ;  only  I  deem  him  by  no  means  to  be 
one  of  the  Red  Band.  For  the  rest,  he  may  be  a 
man  in  a  beast's  skin,  or  a  beast  in  a  man's  skin, 
for  aught  I  know ;  whereas  he  seems,  so  far  as  I 
have  seen  him,  to  be  not  wholly  man-like  or  wholly 
beast-like.  But  now  let  us  hold  our  peace  of  him 
till  we  be  come  nigher  to  his  haunt. 

So  they  went  on  their  way,  and  Birdalone  said 
but  little,  while  the  wood-wife  was  of  many  words 
and  gay.  They  made  all  diligence,  for  Birdalone 
was  not  soon  wearied,  and  moreover  as  now  she 
was  anxious  and  eager  to  see  what  would  befall, 


474     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

which  she  might  not  but  deem  would  be  something 
great. 

They  went  without  stay  till  past  noon,  when 
they  were  come  to  a  little  shady  dale  wherethrough 
ran  a  clear  stream  ;  there  they  rested  and  bathed 
them,  and  thereafter  sat  under  the  boughs  and  ate 
the  dainty  meat  which  the  wood-wife  provided, 
howsoever  she  came  by  it ;  and  when  they  had 
rested  a  while,  the  wood-wife  turned  the  talk  once 
more  unto  Arthur  the  Black  Squire,  and  would 
have  Birdalone  tell  her  all  nicely  what  manner 
of  man  he  was ;  and  Birdalone  was  nothing  loth 
thereto  ;  for  had  she  her  will  she  had  talked  of  him 
day-long. 


CHAPTER  XXIII.  THE  WOOD-WIFE 
BRINGETH  BIRDALONE  TO  THE 
SIGHT  OF  ARTHUR  IN  THE  WILD- 
WOOD. 

NOW  they  go  on  again,  no  less  speedily  than 
before,  and  rest  but  little,  until  it  was  hard 
on  an  hour  before  sunset.  And  now  Ha- 
bundia  began  to  go  warily,  as  if  they  were  come 
anigh  to  their  journey's  end  and  the  thing  that  they 
sought.  They  were  come  by  now  to  a  long  bent 
of  the  forest  well  grown  with  bio;-boled  oak-trees, 
not  very  close  together,  so  that  short  fine  green- 
sward was  all  underneath  them  ;  and  Habundia 
went  heedfuUy  from  bole  to  bole,  as  if  she  would 
be  ready  to  cover  herself  if  need  were  ;  and  Birda- 
lone  went  after  her,  and  was  now  flushed  of  face, 
and  her  eyes  glittered,  and  her  heart  beat  fast,  and 
her  legs  trembled  under  her,  as  she  went  running 
from  tree  to  tree. 

So  came  they  nigh  to  the  crown  of  the  bent, 
and  before  them  were  the  oak-trees  sparser  and 
smaller  as  they  went  down  the  further  side,  which 
seemed  by  their  sudden  shortening  to  be  steeper 
than  the  hither  side  ;  and  betwixt  them  showed  the 
topmost  of  thorn  and  whitebeam  and  dogwood, 
intertwined  with  eglantine  and  honeysuckle  and 
the  new  shoots  of  the  traveller's  joy.  There  the 
wood-wife  put  forth  her  hand  to  bid  Birdalone  stay, 
who  came  up  to  her  friend  and  stood  before  her 
eager  and  quivering:  and  anon  came  the  sound  of 
a  man's  voice  singing,  though  they  could  hear  no 


476     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

words  in  it  as  yet  amidst  the  rustle  of  the  trees  and 
the  tumult  of  song  which  the  blackbirds  and  thros- 
tles raised  in  the  dale  below  them. 

Then  spake  the  wood-wife  softly  :  Hearken,  we 
are  right  and  the  time  is  good,  our  beast  is  giving 
tongue :  now  below  us  is  the  bent-side  steep,  and 
goeth  down  into  a  very  little  dale  with  a  clear 
stream  running  amidst ;  and  therein  is  the  very 
lair  of  the  thing  that  we  are  hunting.  Wherefore 
now  let  us  slip  warily  down  between  the  bushes 
till  we  get  close  to  the  bottom,  and  then  belike  we 
shall  see  the  very  creature  quite  close,  and  we  shall 
then  consider  and  think  what  we  shall  do  with  him. 

Birdalone  had  no  voice  wherewith  to  answer  her, 
but  she  stole  quietly  along  by  her  side  till  they 
came  to  the  bank  of  the  dale  and  plunged  into  the 
thicket  that  flourished  there,  and  fell  to  threading  it, 
making  them  as  small  as  might  be.  But  ere  they 
had  gone  but  a  little  way  the  wordless  song  of  what 
was  below  had  ceased,  and  they  heard  the  sweet 
tingle  of  the  string-play,  and  the  wood-wife  stayed 
her  to  hearken,  and  the  smiles  went  rippling  over 
her  face  and  she  beat  time  with  her  fingers ;  but 
Birdalone,  she  stared  wildly  before  her,  and  would 
have  scrambled  down  the  bank  straightway  at  all 
hazards,  for  that  string-play  was  a  melody  of  the 
Castle  of  the  Quest,  but  Habundia  withheld  her  by 
the  arm.  And  then  suddenly  the  music  died,  and 
there  came  up  a  voice  of  wailing  and  lamenting, 
and  Birdalone  put  her  hands  and  held  the  palms 
tight  against  her  ears,  and  was  at  point  to  cry  out 
aloud  herself;  but  Habundia  drew  a  hand  of  her 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  477 

down  and  whispered  into  her  ear :  Child,  child, 
make  thyself  strong  and  forbear,  and  then  per- 
chance joy  may  come  to  thee ;  hold  thy  peace  and 
come  softly  along  with  me  ! 

So  Birdalone  forbore,  and  strove  with  her  pas- 
sion, though  the  sobs  rent  her  bosom  for  a  while; 
and  by  then  the  loud  lamenting  waned  and  was 
done,  and  the  sound  of  sobbing  came  up  from  be- 
low, as  it  had  been  an  echo  of  Birdalone's  grief 

Then  Habundia  drew  her  on  again  till  they  saw 
the  level  of  the  dale  and  its  stream  piecemeal  be- 
twixt the  leaves,  and  they  had  a  glimpse  of  a  man 
on  the  hither  side  of  the  stream;  and  again  they 
went  lower,  till  they  were  well-nigh  on  a  level  with 
the  greensward  of  the  dale;  and  as  Birdalone  knelt 
with  head  bent  low,  and  her  hands  covering  her 
eyes,  the  wood-wife  put  away  from  before  her  the 
thick  leaves  of  a  hazel-bush,  and  whispering  said  : 
Child,  child  !  look  forth  now  and  see  what  is  before 
thee,  and  see  if  thou  knowest  him,  or  if  he  be  strange 
to  thee,  and  thy  mother  hath  done  nought  for  thee 
when  all  is  said. 

Birdalone  looked  up,  pale  and  wild-eyed,  and 
into  the  dale,  and  saw  a  man  sitting  on  the  grass 
by  the  stream-side  with  his  head  bowed  down  on 
to  his  knees  and  his  face  covered  with  his  hands ; 
he  was  clad  but  in  two  or  three  deerskins  hung 
about  him,  with  a  strip  of  skin  for  a  girdle,  where- 
in was  thrust  a  short  sword ;  his  brown  hair  hung 
down  long  and  shaggy  over  his  face.  Close  by  his 
side  lay  a  little  harp,  and  further  off  a  short  spear 
roughly  hefted  with  an  ash-staff.     He  was  beating 


478     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

the  earth  with  his  feet  and  writhing  him  about  over 
them.  And  Birdalone  looked,  and  her  breath  well- 
nigh  failed  her.  For  presently  he  sat  more  quietly, 
and  lifted  up  his  head,  and  she  saw  his  face  that  it 
was  Arthur,  her  beloved ;  and  now  she  durst  not 
move  lest  he  should  spring  up  and  flee  away;  and 
the  mingled  pain  and  longing  within  her  was  sweet 
indeed,  but  well-nigh  deadly. 

Now  his  hand  sought  round  to  his  harp,  and  he 
took  it  in  his  arms  and  fondled  it  as  it  were,  and 
his  fingers  went  among  the  strings,  and  anon  the 
voice  of  it  came  forth,  and  it  was  nought  changed 
from  the  last  time  it  spake,  and  Birdalone  heark- 
ened breathlessly,  till  the  melody  died  again  and 
Arthur  looked  about  him  and  raised  his  face  as  a 
dog  when  it  fares  to  howl. 

Then  Birdalone  gave  a  great  cry,  and  leapt  forth 
out  of  the  thicket  and  stood  on  the  greensward  with 
nought  betwixt  them  two,  and  she  stretched  out 
her  arms  to  her  beloved  and  cried  out:  O!  no,  no, 
no !  do  it  not,  I  beseech  thee,  lest  I  deem  that  thou 
art  all  changed,  and  that  the  man  and  the  dear  heart 
beloved  of  thee  has  gone  out  of  thee  and  left  thee 
but  a  beast  in  a  man's  shape  ! 

He  leapt  up  as  she  spake,  and  thrust  forward  his 
head  and  looked  fierce  at  her,  and  cried  out :  What ! 
art  thou  come  again?  This  is  the  second  time  I 
have  seen  thee,  thou  image  of  her  that  hath  tor- 
mented me  so  long;  of  her  that  left  me  in  my  most 
need  and  hid  herself  away  from  me.  Hah!  a  man, 
sayest  thou  .''  Did  I  not  strive  with  it,  and  hold  my 
manhood  so  long  as  I  might ;  and  at  last  it  might 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  479 

no  longer  be,  and  I  became  a  beast  and  a  man- 
slayer?  But  what  avails  it  to  talk  with  thee,  since 
thou  art  but  the  image  of  her  that  hath  wasted  my 
life.  Yet  perchance  of  the  image  I  may  make  an 
end  since  I  may  not  lay  hand  on  the  very  destroyer 
herself;  and,  woe's  me,  how  I  loved  her !  yea,  and 
do  still ;  but  not  thee,  O  false  image  ! 

And  forthwith  he  drew  the  blade  from  his  girdle 
and  sprang  forward  at  Birdalone;  and  she  cowered 
and  cringed,  but  moved  not  else.  But  therewithal 
the  wood-wife  came  leaping  through  the  bushes, 
and  she  nocked  an  arrow  on  her  bended  bow,  and 
threatened  him  therewith,  and  cried  out :  Thou 
man-beast,  I  will  slay  thee  if  thou  hurt  my  child 
and  my  dear ;  so  forbear  !  Nay,  I  tell  thee  more, 
unless  thou  make  her  as  glad  at  the  sight  of  thee 
as  I  meant  her  to  be,  I  will  in  the  long  run  slay 
thee ;  so  look  to  it. 

He  laughed  and  said :  What !  there  is  another 
image  of  the  love  that  wasted  me,  is  there  !  Nay, 
but  by  the  Hallows,  this  new-comer  is  the  first  one, 
and  the  one  who  chattered  at  me  is  the  second. 
Or  is  it  this,  that  all  women  now  have  the  sem- 
blance of  the  evil  one  that  has  undone  me,  and 
there  is  nought  else  left  ? 

And  he  stood  staring  at  Birdalone  and  moved 
not  a  while  ;  and  she  stood  with  her  hands  before 
her  face  cringing  before  him.  Then  he  raised  his 
arm  and  cast  the  weapon  far  into  the  bushes  of  the 
bank-side,  and  then  came  forv/ard  and  stood  before 
Birdalone,  and  drew  down  her  hands  from  her  face 
and  stared  in  the  eyes  of  her,  holding  her  by  the 


480     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

two  arms;  and  he  said:  Thou  hast  forgotten  now, 
belike,  how  fair  a  Hfe  we  two  might  have  lived  if 
thou  hadst  not  fled  from  me  and  spoiled  me. 

And  thou  !  by  the  looks  of  thee,  for  thou  art 
sleek  and  fair,  though  this  moment  thou  art  pale 
for  fear  of  me,  thou  hast  lived  a  happy  life  through 
all  these  years,  with  many  a  merry  thing  to  think 
of:  and  dost  thou  deem  that  my  life  was  happy, 
or  that  I  thought  of  any  merry  thing,  or  of  any- 
thing save  my  sorrow  ?  Dost  thou  doubt  it  ?  go 
ask  the  good  spears  of  Greenford,  or  the  Riders  of 
the  Red  Hold,  and  the  field  of  the  slaughter !  If 
there  was  little  joy  there,  less  was  there  elsewhere. 

He  let  go  of  her  therewith  and  stood  trembling 
before  her,  and  she  bowed  down  and  put  palm  to 
palm  and  held  them  out  to  him  as  one  who  prays  ; 
and  she  knew  not  what  she  did. 

Then  he  cried  out  with  a  lamentable  cry  and 
said  :  O  woe's  me !  for  I  have  frighted  her  and 
scared  the  wit  out  of  her,  so  that  she  knows  not 
who  I  am  nor  what  I  would ;  and  I  would  pray  to 
her  and  beseech  her  to  pity  me,  and  not  depart  from 
me  again  or  mock  me  with  images  of  herself. 

Then  he  went  down  on  his  knees  to  her,  and  he 
also  joined  his  hands  to  pray  to  her;  but  it  seemed 
as  if  she  was  stricken  to  stone,  so  wholly  she  moved 
not.  But  for  him,  he  sank  his  forehead  to  earth, 
and  then  he  rolled  over  and  his  limbs  stretched  out, 
and  his  head  turned  aside  and  blood  gushed  out 
from  his  mouth.  But  Birdalone  shrieked  out  and 
cast  herself  on  his  body,  and  cried  :  I  have  found 
him,  and  he  is  dead !   he  is  dead,  and  I  have  slain 


THE    DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  48 1 

him,  because  I  was  a  timorous  fool  and  feared  him  ; 
and  he  was  coming  to  his  right  mind  and  knew  me 
for  what  I  was  ! 

But  Habundia  came  and  stood  over  them,  and 
drew  up  Birdalone,  and  said  :  Nay,  nay,  be  com- 
forted !  for  now  he  is  thus,  and  the  strength  is  gone 
out  of  him  for  a  while,  we  may  deal  with  him. 
Abide,  and  I  will  fetch  the  blood-staunching  herb 
and  the  sleepy  herb,  and  then  we  will  heal  him,  and 
he  will  come  to  his  right  mind  and  be  a  man  again. 

Therewith  she  hastened  away  and  was  gone  but 
a  little;  and  meanwhile  Birdalone  knelt  down  by 
her  love  andv/iped  the  blood  from  him,  and  caressed 
his  sword-hardened  hands  and  moaned  over  him. 
But  when  the  wood-wife  came  back  she  put  Bird- 
alone aside  once  more,  and  knelt  down  by  the  squire 
and  raised  his  head,  and  laid  the  blood-stauncher 
to  his  mouth  and  his  heart,  and  muttered  words 
over  him,  while  Birdalone  looked  over  her  shoulder 
with  her  pale  face;  then  the  she-leech  fetched  water 
from  the  stream  in  a  cup  which  she  drew  from  her 
wallet,  and  she  washed  his  face,  and  he  came  some- 
what to  himself,  so  that  she  might  give  him  drink 
of  the  water  ;  and  yet  more  he  came  to  himself 
So  then  she  took  the  sleepy  herb  and  bruised  it  in 
her  hands  and  put  in  his  mouth  and  again  said 
words  over  him,  and  presently  his  head  fell  back 
and  his  eyes  closed  and  he  slept  peacefully. 

She  stood  up  then  and  turned  to  Birdalone  and 
said  :  Now,  my  child,  have  we  done  all  that  we  may 
do,  save  that  we  shall  bring  him  to  a  place  where 
the  dew  and  the  sun  shall  not  torment  him  and 


482     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

sicken  him  ;  for  he  shall  lie  thus  till  the  sun  comes 
up  to-morrow,  or  longer ;  and  fear  not,  for  when 
he  awaketh  he  shall  be  in  his  right  mind,  and  shall 
know  thee  and  love  thee.  This  I  swear  to  thee 
by  the  earth  and  the  sun  and  the  woodland. 

Said  Birdalone,  trembling  yet :  O  mother,  but 
may  I  kiss  him  and  caress  him  ?  Yea,  surely,  said 
the  wood-mother,  smiling  in  her  face,  but  be  not 
too  long  over  it,  for  lo  !  the  last  of  the  sun,  and  it 
were  better  that  he  be  under  cover  ere  the  twilight 
falls. 

Birdalone  knelt  down  by  her  love  quietly  at  that 
word,  and  fell  to  kissing  him  softly,  and  laid  her 
cheek  to  his,  and  called  him  gentle  names  such  as 
none  can  tell  again  without  shame,  till  the  wood- 
wife  laid  her  hand  on  her  shoulder  and  said  kindly 
and  sweetly :  Rise  up  now,  for  thou  must  make  it 
enough  for  this  present ;  thou  shalt  have  time 
enough  hereafter  for  more  and  much  more. 

So  Birdalone  arose  and  said  :  How  shall  we  bear 
him  to  his  place  ?  Shall  I  not  take  him  by  the  shoul- 
ders and  thou  by  the  legs  ?  For  I  am  stronger  than 
thou  after  all  these  years. 

Laughed  the  wood-wife  :  Nay,  little  one,  said 
she ;  thou  knowest  me  not  utterly  as  yet.  Thou 
shalt  not  bear  him  at  all,  nor  any  part  of  him ;  I 
am  strong  enough  for  more  than  that ;  see  thou ! 
And  she  stooped  down  and  took  him  up  in  her 
arms  as  if  he  were  a  little  child,  and  stepped  off 
lightly  with  him  ;  but  looked  back  over  her  shoul- 
der and  said  to  Birdalone  :  But  thou  mavest  walk 
by  me  and  hold  a  hand  of  him  as  we  go,  though  it 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  483 

will  hinder  me  somewhat;  but  I  know  thine  heart 
and  would  pleasure  thee,  my  child. 

Birdalone  ran  up  to  her  and  thanked  her  and 
kissed  her,  and  took  Arthur's  left  hand,  while  Ha- 
bundia  bore  him  on  down  the  dale  and  out  of  it, 
and  still  along  the  stream  till  they  came  to  a  place 
where  it  was  narrow  on  either  side  thereof,  and  a 
sheer  rock  came  down  so  near  to  the  water  that 
there  was  but  a  strip  of  greensward  three  yards 
wide  betwixt  water  and  rock  ;  and  in  the  face  of 
the  rock  was  a  cave  wide  enough  for  a  man  to 
enter  by  stooping  somewhat.     Therein  the  wood- 
wife  lightly  bore  Arthur,  and  Birdalone  followed ; 
and  they  found  the  cave  dry  and  roomy  within  ; 
there  was  a  bed  therein  of  dry  heather  and  bracken, 
and  thereon  Habundia  laid  her  burden,  and  said  : 
Now,  my  child,  there  is  nought  to  do  but  abide 
till  he  comes  to  himself  again,  which  may  be  some 
time  to-morrow  ;  and  be  of  good  cheer,  for  he  will 
come  to  his  right  self,  but  he  will  be  weak  and 
humble  ;  but  I  shall  have  meat  and  drink  ready  for 
him.     Now  if  thou  wilt  be  ruled  by  me,  thou  wilt 
keep  out  of  the  way  when  he  awakens  ;  moreover, 
be  thou  not  scared  if  I  meet  his  awakening  with 
another  shape  than  that  which  thou   hast  known 
of  me ;  for  sure  it  is  that  it  will  trouble  his  wits 
over-much  if  again  he  seeth  the  two  of  us  alike. 
But  fear  not ;  for  thy  sake,  my  child,  I  will  take  no 
ugly  shape,  though  it  may  well  be  less  beauteous 
than  thine. 

I  will  do  what  thou  wilt,  mother,  said  Birdalone, 
for  I  see  that  thou  art  helping  me  all  thou  may  est ; 


484     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

yet  I  beseech  thee  let  me  sit  by  him  till  the  time 
of  his  awakening  draweth  nigh. 

The  wood-wife  smiled  and  nodded  yeasay  on 
her,  and  they  sat  down,  both  of  them,  beside  the 
sleeping  man,  and  the  day  died  into  the  night  as 
they  sat  hearkening  to  the  ripple  of  the  brook  and 
the  song  of  the  nightingales. 


CHAPTER  XXIV.  THE  WOOD-MOTH- 
ER CHANGETH  HER  FORM  TO  THAT 
OF  A  WOMAN  STRICKEN  IN  YEARS. 

WHEN  the  morrow  came,  there  yet  lay 
Arthur  sleeping  peacefully,  and  Birdalone 
awoke  from  the  slumber  which  had  at  last 
fallen  on  her,  and  looked  about  her  and  saw  not 
Habundia  in  the  cave;  so  she  arose  and  bent  over 
Arthur  and  kissed  him,  and  so  went  forth  and  stood 
in  the  door  and  looked  about  her.  And  she  was 
still  dim-eyed  with  her  just  departed  slumber  and 
the  brightness  of  the  morning  sunlight,  and  she 
scarce  knew  whether  it  were  a  part  of  a  dream,  or 
a  sight  that  was  verily  before  her,  that  she  seemed 
to  see  one  coming  across  the  brook  toward  her, 
stepping  heedfully  from  stone  to  stone  thereof:  a 
woman  stricken  in  years,  but  slim  and  trim  and 
upright,  clad  in  a  gown  of  green  cloth,  with  a  tippet 
of  some  white  fur.  When  she  was  come  on  to  the 
greensward  she  spake  to  Birdalone  in  a  sweet  voice, 
but  thin  with  eld,  and  gave  her  the  sele  of  the  day  ; 
and  Birdalone  was  somewhat  afraid  to  see  a  new- 
comer, but  she  greeted  her,  drawing  back  a  little 
from  her  shyly.  But  the  old  woman  said:  What 
maketh  thee  here,  my  daughter  ?  Dost  thou  not 
know  that  this  is  my  land  and  my  house,  and  that 
I  am  said  not  to  be  unmighty  in  these  woods  ? 

I  pray  thee  pardon  me  if  I  have  done  amiss, 
said  Birdalone ;  but  here  have  I  a  sick  friend,  a 
young  man,  and  I  would  pray  thee  suffer  him  to 
abide  here  in  this  cave  a  little  longer ;  for  there  hath 


486     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

been  also  another  friend,  a  woman,  but  she  hath 
gone  out  while  I  slept,  belike  to  gather  simples, 
for  she  is  wise  in  leechcraft,  and  is  tending  the  sick 
man.  I  pray  thee  humbly  to  suffer  us  lest  we  lose 
our  friend. 

As  she  spake,  she  heard  the  carline  chuckle 
softly,  and  at  last  she  said  :  Why,  Birdalone,  my 
dear,  dost  thou  not  know  me  after  all  these  years  ? 
Look  on  me  again,  look  !  and  thou  shalt  see  that 
I  am  not  so  much  changed  from  what  thou  sawest 
me  last  night.  I  am  still  thine  image,  my  dear, 
only  I  was  the  image  of  what  thou  wert,  and  now 
am  I  the  image  of  what  thou  shalt  be  when  two 
score  years  and  ten  of  happy  life  have  worn  for 
thee.  Tell  me,  am  I  now  aught  like  to  thy  mother 
in  the  flesh? 

How  hast  thou  frighted  me,  mother,  said  Bird- 
alone  ;  I  thought  that  my  friend  had  forsaken  me, 
and  that  perchance  the  new-comer  was  another 
witch  like  unto  tlie  old  one,  and  that  I  was  never 
to  be  at  rest  and  happy.  But  as  to  my  mother  in 
the  flesh,  nay,  thou  art  not  now  wholly  like  unto 
her ;  and  sooth  to  say  I  shall  be  fainer  when  thou 
hast  thine  own  shape  of  me  young  back  again,  for 
I  love  thee  not  so  much  as  now  thou  art. 

The  wood-wife  laughed  :  Well,  she  said,  thou 
shalt  not  see  over-much  of  me  in  this  shape ;  and 
that  the  less  because  of  something  I  shall  now  tell 
thee,  to  wit,  that  I  have  been  thinking  the  matter 
over,  and  I  would  have  thee  leave  us  twain  together 
alone  before  the  young  man  awaketh.  I  would 
have  thee  get  thee  home  and  abide  him   there  ;  it 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  487 

shall  not  be  long  I  promise  thee  ;  and  this  also, 
that  he  shall  come  home  to  thee  sound  in  body 
and  whole  in  limb. 

Birdalone's  countenance  fell,  and  she  said  : 
Why  this  second  mind,  mother  ?  why,  I  pray 
thee  ?  Said  Habundia  :  I  fear  for  thy  love  lest 
he  be  not  strong  enough  to  open  his  eyes  upon 
thy  face ;  but  after  he  hath  been  a  day  in  the 
woods,  and  I  have  spoken  to  him  diversely  and 
cheered  him  with  the  hope  of  meeting  thee,  he  may 
well  be  strong  enough  to  seek  thee  for  a  mile's 
length,  and  find  thine  house  first  and  then  thee. 
So  now  wilt  thou  obey  me  ?  Nay,  if  thou  must 
needs  weep,  I  will  be  gone  into  the  thicket  till 
thou  hast  done,  thou  wilful  !  Birdalone  smiled 
through  her  tears,  and  said  :  I  pray  thee  pardon 
my  wilfulness,  mother,  and  I  will  depart  without 
turning  back  into  the  cave.  Nay,  said  Habundia, 
there  is  no  need  for  so  much  haste  as  that :  I  will 
in  now,  and  do  my  leechdoms  with  the  sick  man. 
But  do  thou  go  across  the  stream,  thou  barefoot, 
and  thou  wilt  find  on  the  other  side,  by  the  foot 
of  the  quicken-tree  yonder,  honeycombs  and  white 
bread  and  a  bicker  of  wild  goats'  milk.  Bathe 
thee  then  if  thou  wilt,  and  bring  those  matters  over 
hither  ;  and  then  shalt  thou  go  in  and  kiss  thy 
mate's  sick  face  with  thy  fresh  one,  and  thereafter 
shall  we  sit  here  by  the  ripple  of  the  water  and 
break  our  fast;  and  lastly,  thou  shalt  go  in  and 
kiss  again  and  then  take  to  the  road.  But  tell 
me,  deemest  thou  surely  that  thou  canst  find  it 
again  ?     Yea,  surely,  mother,  said  Birdalone  ;  I  am 


488     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

wood-woman  enough  for  that ;  and  now  I  will 
do  all  thy  will.  And  therewith  she  stepped  out 
lightly  on  to  the  greensward,  and  sought  up  the 
stream  till  she  found  a  smooth-grounded  pool 
meet  for  her  bath,  and  when  that  was  done,  she 
fetched  the  victual  and  came  back  to  the  wood- 
wife  ;  then  they  two  sat  down  together,  and  ate 
and  drank  while  the  water  rippled  at  their  feet. 
But  when  they  were  done,  Birdalone  gat  her  into 
the  cave  again,  and  kissed  the  sleeping  man  fondly, 
and  came  forth  lightly  and  stood  a  moment  be- 
fore the  wood-wife,  and  said  :  Tell  me  this  at  least, 
mother,  when  shall  he  be  there  ?  To-morrow, 
quoth  the  wood-wife  ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  would 
keep  thee  within  doors  and  abide  him  there,  lest 
there  be  trouble  ;  for  he  may  not  yet  be  as  strong 
as  the  strongest.  Birdalone  hung  down  her  head 
and  answered  not,  but  said  presently :  Farewell, 
wood-mother,  and  be  thou  blessed.  Then  she 
took  up  her  bow  and  betook  her  lightly  to  the 
woodland  way,  and  the  wood-wife  stood  looking 
at  her  till  the  thicket  had  hidden  her,  and  then 
turned  back  and  went  into  the  cave. 


CHAPTER  XXV.  THE  WOOD-WIFE 
HEALETH  AND  TENDETH  THE 
BLACK   SQUIRE. 

SHE  stood  over  Arthur  for  a  minute  or  two, 
and  then  stooped  down  and  whispered  a  word 
in  his  ear,  and  presently  he  stirred  on  the  bed 
and  half  opened  his  eyes,  but  straightway  turned 
on  his  side,  as  if  to  gather  sleep   to  him,  but  she 
took  him    by   the   shoulder  and   said   in   a  clear 
voice :    Nay,   knight,    nay ;    hast   thou   not  slept 
enough  ?   is  there  nought  for  thee  to  do  ?      He  sat 
up  in  the  bed  and  rubbed  his  eyes,  and   his  face 
was  come  to  its  wholesome  colour,  and  his  eyes 
looked  out  quietly  and  calmly  as  he  looked  about 
the  cave  and  saw  the  wood-wife  standing  by  him ; 
and  he  spake  in  a  voice  which  was  somewhat  weak, 
but  wherein  was  no  passion  of  rage  or  woodness  : 
Where   am    I    then  ?   and  who  art   thou,  dame  ? 
She  said  :  Thou  art  in  a  cave  of  the  woodland, 
and  I  am  for  one  thing  thy  leech,  and  meseemeth 
thou  desirest  to  eat  and  to  drink.     He  smiled  and 
nodded  his  head ;  and  she  fetched  him   the  milk, 
and  he  drank  a  long  draught,  and  sighed  there- 
after, as  one  who  is  pleased  ;  and  she  smiled  on 
him,  and  fetched  him  the  bread  and  the  honey,  and 
he  ate  and  drank  again,  and  then  lay  down  and  fell 
fast  asleep.     And  she  suffered  his  slumber  for  two 
hours  or  so,  and  then  awoke  him  again  ;  and  again 
he  asked  where  he  was  and  what  was  she,  but  she 
said  as  before.     And  said  she  :  The  next  thing  thou 
hast  to  do  is  to  arise,  as  thou  well  mayest,  and  take 


490     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

this  raiment,  which  is  fair  and  clean,  and  go  wash- 
thee  in  the  brook  and  come  back  to  me  ;  and  then 
we  will  talk,  and  thou  shalt  tell  me  of  how  it  was 
with  thee,  and  peradventure  I  may  tell  thee  some- 
what of  how  it  shall  be  with  thee.  As  she  spoke 
she  went  to  a  coffer  which  stood  in  a  nook  of  the 
cave,  and  drew  forth  from  it  a  shirt  and  hosen  and 
shoon,  and  a  surcoat  and  hood  of  fine  black  cloth, 
and  a  gilded  girdle  and  a  fair  sword,  red-sheathed, 
and  said :  These  may  serve  thy  turn  for  the  pres- 
ent, so  take  them  and  don  them,  and  thou  shalt 
look  like  a  squire  at  least,  if  not  a  knight. 

So  he  arose  as  one  in  a  dream  and  went  out;  but 
as  he  passed  by  her  she  saw  something  gleaming  on 
his  breast,  and  noted  that  it  was  Birdalone's  fair 
sapphire  ring  which  hung  about  his  neck  ;  so  she 
smiled,  and  said  under  her  breath  :  Crafty  is  my 
dear  daughter !  But  that  shall  save  me  some  words 
at  least.     And  she  abided  his  return. 

Anon  he  cometh  back  clad  in  the  fair  raiment, 
with  the  sword  by  his  side ;  and  the  wood-wife  smote 
her  palms  together  and  cried  out :  Now  indeed  thou 
art  fair  and  well-liking,  and  a  fair  lady  might  well 
take  pleasure  in  beholding  thee. 

But  his  brow  was  knit,  and  he  looked  sullen  and 
angry,  and  he  said  :  What  is  all  this  play  ?  and 
where  gattest  thou  this  ring  which  I  found  e'en 
now  about  my  neck  ?  And  who  art  thou,  and  why 
have  I  been  brought  hither? 

His  eyes  looked  fiercely  on  her  as  he  spake, 
holding  out  his  palm  with  the  ring  lying  thereon. 
But  the  wood-wife  answered :   Many  questions,  fair 


THE   DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  491 

youth  !  but  I  will  tell  thee  :  the  play  is  for  thine 
healing  and  pleasure,  whereas  both  sick  hast  thou 
been  and  sorry.  As  to  the  ring,  it  is  thou  hast  got 
it  and  not  I.  But  I  will  tell  thee  this,  that  I  have 
seen  it  on  the  finger  of  a  fair  damsel  who  haunteth 
the  woodland  not  far  hence.  As  to  what  I  am, 
that  were  a  long  tale  to  tell  if  I  told  it  all ;  but  be- 
lieve this  meanwhile,  that  I  am  the  lady  and  mis- 
tress of  hereabouts,  and  am  not  without  power  over 
my  folk  and  my  land.  And  as  to  why  thou  wert 
brought  hither,  I  brought  thee  because  I  had  no 
better  house  handy  for  a  sick  man  to  lie  in. 

Then  Arthur  stood  a  long  while  considering  the 
ring  that  lay  on  his  palm,  and  at  last  he  put  his 
hand  on  the  wood-wife's  shoulder,  and  looked  in- 
to her  face  beseechingly,  and  said  :  O  mother,  if 
thou  be  mighty  be  merciful  withal,  and  have  pity 
on  me  !  Thou  callest  m.e  a  youth,  and  so  I  may 
be  in  regard  to  thee  ;  but  I  tell  thee  it  is  five  long 
years  and  there  hath  been  no  other  thought  in  my 
heart  but  what  was  loathsome  to  me,  and  it  hath 
worn  and  wasted  my  youth,  so  that  it  waneth  and 
withereth  and  is  nought.  O,  if  thou  be  mighty, 
bring  me  to  her  that  I  may  see  her  at  least  one  time 
before  I  die.  And  therewith  he  fell  down  on  his 
knees  before  her,  and  kissed  the  hem  of  her  gown, 
and  wept.  But  she  drew  him  up  and  looked  on 
him  with  the  merry  countenance  of  a  kind  old  wo- 
man, and  said  :  Nay,  nay,  I  am  not  so  hard  to  be 
won  to  thy  helping  that  thou  needestpray  so  sore 
and  weep  :  here  need  we  tarry  no  longer,  and  if 
thou  wilt  come  with  me  we  shall  go  seek  the  damsel 


492     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

who  bore  this  ring,  though  how  it  should  come  to 
thee  why  should  I  know  ?  Neither  do  I  know  if 
the  said  ring-bearer  be  the  one  woman  whom  thou 
needest.  But  I  will  tell  thee  at  once  that  she  is  a 
dear  friend  of  mine. 

Then  Arthur  threw  his  arms  about  her,  and  kissed 
her  cheeks  and  blessed  her,  while  she  laughed  on 
him  and  said  :  Nay,  fair  sir,  if  thou  wilt  do  so  much 
with  the  withered  branch,  what  wilt  thou  with  the 
blossom  of  the  tree  ?  And  he  was  abashed  before 
her,  but  hope  made  his  heart  to  dance. 

So  the  wood-wife  took  up  her  bow,  slung  her 
quiver  at  her  back,  and  girt  her  short  sword  to  her, 
and  then  led  him  forth,  and  so  into  the  thicket  out 
of  the  dale  and  forth  into  the  oaken  bent,  and 
lightly  she  led  him  thereafter  through  the  wood- 
land. 


CHAPTERXXVI.  THE  BLACK  SQUIRE 
TELLETH  THE  WOOD-WIFE  OF  HIS 
DOINGS  SINCE  BIRDALONE  WENT 
FROM  THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEST. 

AS  they  went  Habundia  said  to  Arthur  :  Now 
shalt  thou  talk  and  tell  for  the  shortening 
of  the  way,  and  let  us  know  somewhat  of 
thy  story.  But  first  I  must  tell  thee,  for  thou 
mayest  not  know  it,  so  witless  as  then  thou  wast, 
that  yesterday  we  found  thee  down  in  the  dale  yon- 
der, playing  the  string-play  sweetly  indeed,  but 
otherwise  dight  like  a  halt  beast  more  than  a  man, 
so  that  we  wondered  at  thee  and  pitied  thee. 

Arthur  knit  his  brows  as  if  he  strove  with  some 
memory  and  might  not  master  it;  then  he  said: 
Thou  sayest  We,  who  then  was  the  other  ?  Said 
Habundia  :  I  had  a  dear  friend  with  me.  Quoth 
he :  And  did  she  pity  me  also  ?  Yea,  said  the  wood- 
wife,  else  scarce  had  she  been  a  friend  to  me.  O 
let  us  on  swiftly,  said  Arthur,  so  long  as  the  time 
may  be  !  And  they  quickened  their  pace  and  ate 
up  the  way  speedily. 

Presently  spake  the  wood-wife  again  :  Now  for 
the  tale  of  thee,  fair  sir ;  yet  will  I  shorten  it  some- 
what by  telling  thee  that  I  know  thy  name,  that 
thou  art  Arthur  the  Black  Squire  of  the  Castle  of 
the  Quest.  He  stared  at  that  word,  and  said:  How 
knewest  thou  this  ?  how  couldst  thou  guess  it,  who 
hast  never  seen  me  erst?  A  friend  told  me,  said 
she  ;  too  long  it  were  as  now  to  tell  thee  thereof. 
Rather  do  thou  tell  me  how  thou  didst  fare  when 


494     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

ye  found  thy  friend  gone  from  the  castle  that 
time  ye  came  home  from  the  winning  of  the  Red 
Hold. 

Arthur  stared  astonished,  and  said  :  What  is  it  ? 
Dost  thou  verily  know  my  love  ?  or  art  thou  a 
sorceress  and  knowest  somewhat  of  me  by  spell- 
work  ?  I  am  somewhat  more  than  a  sorceress,  may- 
happen,  said  the  wood-wife  ;  but  heed  it  not,  since 
I  am  thy  friend  to-day,  but  tell  me  what  I  ask, 
that  I  may  have  all  the  tale  of  thee  ;  it  will  serve 
for  the  shortening  of  the  way.  Said  Arthur:  And 
who  but  I  needeth  it  as  short  as  may  be  ?  so  stand 
we  not  loitering  here,  and  I  will  talk  as  we  wend 
on  speedily. 

On  they  sped  therefore,  and  said  Arthur  :  How 
did  I  fare  ?  as  one  stunned,  mother,  and  knew  not 
what  had  happened  ;  and  when  I  heard  their  bab- 
ble of  how  she  had  done  wrong  here  and  right 
there,  I  was  driven  half  mad  by  it,  so  that  I  hast- 
ened back  to  the  Red  Hold,  and  became  the  cap- 
tain of  Greenford,  to  hunt  down  their  scattered 
foemen  ;  for  I  said  to  myself  that  needs  must  I 
rage  and  slay,  and  that  were  worser  amongst  my 
friends  than  mine  unfriends.  What  then }  that 
business  came  to  an  end  ;  though  all  the  ill  men 
were  not  slain,  but  all  were  driven  away  from  the 
parts  of  Greenford  ;  and  sooth  to  say  they  durst 
not  come  anywhere  nigh  where  they  heard  of  me. 
Then  became  each  day  like  every  other,  and  the 
thought  of  my  hope  and  my  despair  ate  mine  heart 
out,  and  I  was  of  no  avail  unto  any.  Now  it  so 
happened,  amidst  my  many  battles  and  chases,  I 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  495 

had  hunted  the  bands  of  the  Red  Hold  into  the 
northwest  marches  of  the  woodland  ;  and  I  noted 
that  even  they,  howsoever  hard  bestead,  and  the 
worst  of  men  to  boot,  would  scarce  at  the  first  be 
driven  into  the  thickets  thereof,  though  at  last, 
whether  or  no  they  have  made  covenant  with  the 
devils  there  I  know  not,  they  have  betaken  them 
to  the  depths  of  the  wood  and  have  borne  off  wo- 
men from  the  dwellings  and  got  children  on  them, 
and  are  like  to  breed  an  evil  folk.  That  then  I  noted 
that  this  Evilshaw  was  a  dwelling  loathed  and  des- 
ert, and  little  like  it  was  that  any  would  meddle  with 
me  there.  Three  years  had  worn  since  I  was  cast 
away  at  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  by  her  that  loved 
me,  who  must  needs  sacrifice  both  her  and  me  to 
the  busy  devil  of  folly  ;  and  I  also  deemed  that  if  I 
sought  for  her  I  should  not  find  her  ;  and  yet  more 
forsooth,  that  if  I  found  her  she  would  be  as  hard 
unto  me  as  when  she  fled  from  me.  And  as  for  me, 
I  was  gotten  hard  and  crabbed,  and  no  man,  if  his 
heart  would  let  him,  would  have  aught  to  say  to 
me.  So  I  gat  me  away  from  the  Red  Hold,  as  I 
had  from  the  Castle  of  the  Quest,  and  I  gave  out 
that  I  would  enter  into  religion,  and  forbade  any 
man  to  follow  me.  Neither  did  any  desire  it.  First 
of  all  I  set  me  down  at  the  very  outskirts  of  the 
woodland,  and  raised  me  a  bower  there,  rude  and 
ill-shapen.  Few  folk  came  anigh  me,  and  yet  some 
few,  charcoal-burners,  and  hunters  of  the  edges  of 
the  wood,  and  such-like.  These  deemed  me  a  holy 
man,  whereas  I  was  but  surly.  Somewhat  also  they 
feared  me,  whereas  in  some  of  their  huntings  or 


496     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

goings  and  comings  after  prey  I  had  put  forth  all 
my  strength,  eked  out  by  the  lore  of  knighthood, 
which  was  strange  to  them.  One  man  there  was  of 
them  who  was  fashioned  of  the  minstrel  craft  by 
nature,  and  who  forgathered  with  me  specially,  till 
we  became  friends,  and  he  was  a  solace  to  me,  with 
his  tales  and  his  songs  of  a  rougher  people  than  I 
had  been  wont  to  deal  with.  But  when  1  had  been 
in  that  place  for  two  years  he  died  of  a  sickness, 
and  I  was  left  lonely,  and  my  soreness  of  heart  fell 
upon  me  till  I  scarce  knew  what  next  I  should  do. 
So  I  fared  away  yet  deeper  into  the  wildwood,  tak- 
ing with  me  the  harp  which  my  friend  had  given 
me  before  he  died.  It  was  summer,  and  I  wandered 
about  ever  deeper  into  the  wood,  until  belike  I 
had  scarce  been  able  to  win  out  of  it  if  I  had  tried. 
At  last,  when  the  autumn  came,  I  built  myself 
again  some  sort  of  a  bower  in  a  clearing  of  the 
wood  wherein  was  water,  and  the  resort  of  plente- 
ous venison. 

What  befell  next?  My  mind  is  not  over-clear 
concerning  it  all,  for  I  was  now  becoming  more  of 
a  beast  than  a  man.  But  this  I  know,  that  some 
men  of  the  bands  whom  I  had  chased  happened  on 
me.  They  knew  me  not  for  their  old  foeman,  but 
of  their  kind  it  was  to  torment  and  slay  any  man 
whom  they  might  lightly  overcome.  Yet  was  not 
the  battle  so  over-lio-ht  but  that  I  slew  and  hurt 
divers  of  them  ere  they  got  me  under  and  stripped 
me  and  bound  my  hands  and  tormented  me,  after 
the  manner  that  the  devils  shall  do  with  them  when 
they  shall  go  to  their  reward.  Yet  somehow  I  lived, 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  497 

though  they  deemed  me  dead,  and  I  crawled  away 
thence  when  they  were  gone ;  and  somehow  I  was 
healed  of  my  body,  but  I  was  confused  of  my  wit 
thereafter,  and  now  can  call  to  mind  but  little  of 
what  befell  me  as  I  strayed  from  place  to  place,  save 
that  I  remember  I  was  hapless  and  heart-sore  ever: 
and  also  meseemeth  that  I  saw  visions  at  whiles,  and 
those  who  had  been  in  my  life  before  these  things, 
their  images  would  come  before  me  to  mock  me  as  I 
sat  singing  whiles  and  whiles  playing  the  string-play 
(for  my  harp  I  bore  ever  with  me) ;  and  whiles  I  be- 
wailed me,  and  called  for  help  on  them  that  would 
not  or  might  not  help  me.  And  now  I  may  not  even 
tell  the  years  of  my  abiding  in  the  desert,  how  many 
they  be.  But  I  pray  thee  let  us  on  more  swiftly  yet. 
Said  the  wood-wife :  Thou  hast  told  me  but  little 
of  thy  life.  Black  Squire,  but  it  is  enough  maybe  ; 
and  I  see  that  thou  mayst  not  tell  me  more  because 
thou  hast  thy  mind  set  on  what  may  betide  thee 
when  this  day  is  over.  But  thou  must  know  that 
thou  hast  come  into  the  wood  of  Evilshaw,  wherein, 
besides  those  savage  men  who  quelled  thee  and  their 
like,  there  be  uncouth  things  no  few,  and  wights 
that  be  not  of  the  race  of  Adam ;  wherefore  no  great 
marvel  is  it  that  thou  sawest  visions,  and  images  of 
them  that  were  not  by  thee.  Yea,  said  he,  but 
one  vision  had  I  that  confused  and  overcame  me 
more  than  all  others,  and  meseemeth  that  came  to 
me  not  long  ago.  For  first  I  saw  the  shape  of  her 
that  my  soul  desireth  ever,  and  it  wept  and  lamented 
forme;  and  thenforalittlelseemedasif  I  were  com- 
ing forth  from  mv  confusion  of  wit ;  when  lo  !  there 


498     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

issued  from  the  thicket  another  image  of  my  be- 
loved and  blamed  me  and  threatened  me.  God  wot 
good  cause  there  was  of  the  blame.  But  tell  me, 
mother,  since  thou  callest  thyself  wise,  what  may 
this  portend  ? 

The  wood-wife  laughed  :  Since  I  am  wise,  said 
she,  I  will  foretell  thee  good  days.  And  now  we 
will  talk  no  more  of  thee  or  thy  love  or  thy  sorrow, 
but  since  thou  wilt  so  fiercely  devour  the  way,  I 
will  tell  thee  a  tale  or  two  of  this  wood  and  its  wights 
to  save  us  from  over-much  weariness. 

So  did  she,  talking  and  telling  as  they  went ;  and 
she  went  on  a  pace  before  him,  and  howsoever  long 
or  hardly  he  might  stride  he  might  not  overgo  her. 
And  so  fast  they  went,  that  they  were  within  a  little 
way  of  the  Oak  of  Tryst  a  good  while  before  the 
sun  had, set,  though  they  had  set  out  from  the  cave 
three  hours  after  the  hour  when  Birdalone  and  the 
wood-wife  had  left  the  House  under  the  Wood  on 
the  yesterday.  They  had  come  to  a  steep  rock  that 
rose  up  from  a  water's  side,  and  the  wood-wife  bade 
stay,  whether  Arthur  would  or  no,  and  she  made 
him  eat  and  drink,  bringing  the  victual  and  wine 
from  out  of  a  cleft  in  the  said  rock.  And  she  held 
him  there  till  the  night  was  come  and  there  was  a 
glimmer  of  the  rising  moon  in  the  east,  and  he  was 
ill  at  ease  and  restless  ;  but  still  she  held  him  there 
till  the  moon  rose  high  and  shone  upon  them,  and 
the  shadows  of  the  oak-boughs  lay  black  all  around. 

Then  she  bade  him  arise,  and  let  him  on  to  the 
Oak  of  Tryst,  yea  and  somewhat  beyond  it  toward 
the  great  water.     Then  she  spake  to  him  :    Black 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  499 

Squire,  I  am  now  come  home,  and  will  lead  thee 
no  further  ;  I  was  deeming  that  we  should  have 
slept  in  the  wood  a  good  way  from  this,  and  then 
would  I  have  brought  thee  on  thy  way  to-morrow 
morning  ;  but  the  eagerness  ofthine  heart  hath  made 
thy  feet  so  speedy,  that  we  be  here  somewhat  rathe, 
and  yet  I  am  not  ill-pleased  therewith.  Then  she 
turned  him  about  and  said  :  Look  down  the  bent 
and  tell  me  what  thou  seest.  He  said  :  I  see  the 
boles  of  goodly  trees,  and  betwixt  them  the  gleam- 
ing of  a  great  water.  She  said  :  Go  thitherward  then 
while  the  moon  is  yet  at  her  brightest,  and  thou 
shalt  presently  come  to  wide  meads  lying  along  the 
water,  and  a  stream  running  through  them.  Enter 
then  into  the  meads  and  look  about  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  see  a  little  house  (there  is  none  other  nigh) 
standing  just  across  the  said  stream  ;  go  up  thither 
boldly  and  crave  guesting  from  whomsoever  thou 
shalt  find  there,  and  maybe  things  shall  go  after 
thy  mind.  More  than  this  I  may  not  do  for  thee. 
Farewell  then,  and  if  thou  wilt  thou  mayst  meet 
me  again  ;  that  is  to  say,  that  which  is  verily  me:  but 
it  is  like  that  this  shape  which  hath  been  striding  on 
with  thee  daylong  thou  shalt  not  see  any  more. 

He  looked  on  her  wondering,  for  she  seemed  to 
grow  goodly  and  stately  before  his  eyes.  But  even 
as  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  take  hers,  she 
turned  about  suddenly  and  fared  into  the  wood 
out  of  his  sight,  wending  full  as  swiftly  as  might 
have  been  looked  for.  Then  he  drew  his  sword 
and  turned  his  face  from  the  wood,  and  went  down 
toward  the  water. 


CHAPTER  XXVII.  SIR  ARTHUR  COM- 
ETH TO  THE  HOUSE  UNDER  THE 
WOOD. 

SO  came  Arthur  Into  the  meadows,  and  went 
eagerly  but  warily  over  the  dewy  grass.  And 
here  and  there  a  cow  rose  before  him  and 
went  bundling  down  the  mead  a  little  way,  and  the 
owls  cried  out  from  behind  him,  and  a  fox  barked 
from  the  thicket's  edge.  Then  he  found  himself 
on  the  stream-side,  and  he  stayed  and  looked  from 
side  to  side,  and  lo !  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream 
a  little  house  that  looked  familiar  to  him  as  a  yeo- 
man's dwelling  in  the  builded  lands,  and  the  thatch 
thereon  shone  under  the  moon  and  its  windows 
were  yellow  with  candle-light ;  and  so  homely  it 
seemed  to  him,  that  he  thrust  his  sword  into  the 
sheath  and  lightly  crossed  the  brook,  and  came  to 
the  door  and  laid  his  hand  upon  the  latch  and  lifted 
it  and  shoved  the  door,  and  all  was  open  before 
him. 

His  eyes,  coming  from  the  night,  dazzled  with 
the  bright  light  of  the  candles,  but  he  saw  a  fair 
woman  rising  up  in  her  place,  and  he  said :  May 
a  traveller  in  the  woodland  be  welcome  here  to- 
night, dealing  with  all  in  all  honour? 

But  the  woman  came  toward  him  holding  out 
her  two  hands,  and  ere  he  could  cry  out  that  he 
knew  her,  she  had  thrown  herself  upon  him,  and 
had  cast  her  arms  about  him  and  was  kissing  his 
face,  and  murmuring  :  O  welcome  indeed  !  wel- 
come, welcome,  and  welcome  !     And  so  sore  did 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  501 

his  past  grief  and  his  desire  move  him,  that  he  was 
weak  before  her,  and  held  down  his  hands  and  let 
her  do.  And  both  those  were  breathless  with  won- 
der and  joy  and  longing  ;  and  they  stood  aloof  a 
little  in  a  while  and  looked  on  each  other,  she  with 
heaving  bosom  and  streaming  eyes,  and  he  with 
arms  stretched  forth  and  lips  that  strove  with  his 
heart's  words  and  might  not  utter  them;  but  once 
more  she  gave  herself  to  him,  and  he  took  her  in 
his  arms  strongly  now,  so  that  she  was  frail  and 
weak  before  him,  and  he  laid  his  cheek  to  her  cheek 
and  his  lips  to  her  lips,  and  kissed  her  eyes  and  her 
shoulders  and  murmured  over  her.  And  then  again 
they  stood  apart,  and  she  took  him  by  the  hand 
and  led  him  to  the  settle,  and  set  him  down  by 
her,  and  herself  by  him  ;  and  a  while  they  said 
nought.  Then  she  spake  as  one  who  had  come 
to  herself  and  was  calm,  though  her  heart  was 
aflame  for  love :  Tell  me,  love,  when  thine  hand 
was  on  the  latch  didst  thou  look  to  find  me  here 
in  this  house  ?  for  thine  hand  it  was  that  waked 
me  ;  I  heard  not  thy  foot  before  the  threshold,  for 
I  was  weary  and  slumbering.  Alas  !  that  I  lost 
the  sound  of  thy  feet !  He  spake,  and  his  voice 
sounded  false  unto  him,  as  if  it  came  from  another's 
mouth:  I  wot  not;  the  woman  that  led  me  nearby 
seemed  to  bid  me  hope.  Then  he  said:  Nay,  the 
sooth  is  that  I  should  have  died  if  I  had  not  found 
thee  here  ;  I  have  been  sick  so  long  with  hoping. 
Again  were  they  silent  till  she  said :  I  would  that 
I  had  heard  thee  crossing  the  brook.  But  the 
wood-wife  bade  me  look  for  thee  no  earlier  than 


502     THE   WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS   ISLES 

to-morrow;  else  had  I  time  enough;  and  I  would 
have  made  the  house  trim  with  the  new  green 
boughs,  and  dighted  our  bed  with  rose  blooms ;  and  I 
would  have  done  on  me  my  shining  gown  that  the 
wood-wife  gave  me.  For  indeed  she  was  but  clad 
in  her  scanty  smock  and  nought  else. 

But  he  laid  his  head  on  her  bosom  and  kissed 
her  all  about,  and  said:  Nay,  my  own  love,  it  is 
well,  it  is  better.  And  she  murmured  over  him  : 
O  friend,  my  dear,  think  not  that  I  had  will  to  hide 
me  from  thee.  All  that  is  here  of  me  is  thine,  and 
thine,  and  thine. 

And  she  took  his  hand  and  they  arose  together, 
and  she  said  :  O  friend,  I  fled  from  thee  once  and 
left  thee  lonely  of  me  because  I  deemed  need  drave 
me  to  it ;  and  I  feared  the  strife  of  friends,  and 
confusion  and  tangle.  Now  if  thou  wilt  avenge 
thee  on  me  thou  mayest,  for  I  am  in  thy  power. 
Yet  will  I  ask  thee  what  need  will  drive  thee  to 
leave  me  lonely  ? 

He  said  :  The  need  of  death.  But  she  said  : 
Mayhappen  we  shall  lie  together  then,  as  here  to- 
night we  shall  lie. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII.    FAIR  DAYS  IN  THE 
HOUSE  OF   LOVE. 

ON  the  morrow  it  was  sweet  times  betwixt 
those  twain,  and  what  was  hard  and  fierce 
of  their  love  they  seemed  to  have  put  be- 
hind them.  A  dear  joy  it  was  to  Birdalone  that 
day  to  busy  herself  about  the  housekeeping,  and 
to  provide  whatsoever  seemed  now,  or  had  seemed 
to  her  in  her  early  days,  to  be  dainties  of  their 
meadow  and  woodland  husbandry,  as  cream  and 
junkets  and  wood-fruit  and  honey,  and  fine  bread 
made  for  that  very  occasion. 

Withal  she  was  careful  as  a  mother  with  a  child 
that  he  should  not  over-weary  himself  with  the  sun 
of  the  early  summer,  but  rather  to  follow  the  brook 
up  into  the  wood  and  lie  adown  in  the  flecked 
shadow  and  rest  him  wholly,  as  if  there  were  nought 
for  him  to  do  but  to  take  in  rest  all  that  was  done 
for  his  service,  both  by  the  earth  and  by  the  hands 
and  nimble  feet  of  Birdalone.  And  as  she  was  wil- 
ful in  other  ways  of  her  cherishing,  so  also  in  this, 
that  for  nought  in  that  daylight  would  she  go  any- 
wise disarrayed,  nay  not  so  much  as  to  go  bare- 
foot, though  he  prayed  her  thereof  sorely,  and  told 
her  that  fairer  and  sweeter  she  was  in  her  smock 
alone  than  in  any  other  raiment.  For  in  the  morn- 
ing she  went  in  her  woodland  green  let  down  to 
her  heels,  and  when  the  day  wore  towards  evening, 
and  the  wind  came  cool  from  over  the  Great  Water, 
then  she  did  on  her  wonder-raiment  which  the 
wood-wife  had  given  her,  and  led  Arthur  over  the 


504     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

meadows  here  and  there,  and  went  gleaming  by  the 
side  of  the  black-clad  man  along  the  water's  lip. 
And  they  looked  forth  on  to  Green  Eyot  and  Rock 
Eyot,  and  stood  by  the  shallow  bight  where  she 
had  bathed  those  times ;  and  they  went  along  to 
the  dismal  creek  where  the  Sending  Boat  was  wont 
to  lie,  and  where  yet  lay  the  scattered  staves  of  it ; 
and  then  along  the  meadow-land  they  went  from 
end  to  end,  resting  oft  on  the  flowery  grass,  till  the 
dews  began  to  fall  and  the  moon  cast  shadows  on 
the  greensward.  Then  home  they  fared  to  the 
house  ;  and  again  on  the  way  must  Birdalone  feign 
for  their  disport  that  the  witch  was  come  back  again, 
and  was  awaiting  her  to  play  the  tyrant  with  her ; 
and  Arthur  fell  in  with  her  game,  and  kissed  her 
and  clipped  her,  and  then  drew  his  sword  and  said  : 
By  All-hallows  I  shall  smite  off  her  head  if  she  but 
lay  a  finger  on  thee. 

So  they  played  like  two  happy  children  till  they 
came  to  the  door  of  the  house,  and  Birdalone 
shoved  it  open,  and  they  two  looked  in  together 
and  saw  nought  worse  therein  save  the  strange 
shadows  that  the  moon  cast  from  the  settle  on  to 
the  floor.  Then  Birdalone  drew  in  her  love,  and 
went  about  lighting  the  candles  and  quickening  a 
little  cooking  fire  on  the  hearth,  till  the  yellow  light 
chased  the  moon  away  from  the  bed  of  their  desire. 


CHAPTER  XXIX.  THOSE  TWAIN  WILL 
SEEK  THE  WISDOM  OF  THE  WOOD- 
WIFE. 

AGAIN  next  day  was  their  life  such  as  it  had 
been  the  day  before;  and  as  they  lay  in  cool 
shadow  of  a  great  oak,  Birdalone  fell  to  tell- 
ing Arthur  all  the  whole  story  of  her  dealings  with 
the  wood-wife,  and  how  that  she  had  so  loved  her 
and  holpen  her,  that  through  her  love  and  her  help 
she  had  escaped  the  witch  and  her  snares,  who  would 
have  turned  her  into  a  half-devil  for  the  undoing 
of  manfolk.  And  how  that  the  said  wood-wife  had 
never  appeared  to  her  but  as  an  image  and  double 
of  herself,  save  on  the  time  when  she  played  the 
leech  to  him.  Then  she  told  him  how  all  had  gone 
when  the  wood-wife  had  sought  him  out  for  the 
fulfilment  of  their  love,  and  of  the  dreadful  day 
when  they  had  come  upon  him  out  of  his  wit  and 
but  little  manlike. 

Then  she  asked,  would  he,  within  the  next  day 
or  two,  that  they  should  go  see  the  wood-wife  to- 
gether and  thank  her  for  her  help,  and  bring  him 
within  the  ring  of  her  love  and  guarding ;  and  he 
yeasaid  it  with  a  good  will. 

After  this  she  would  have  him  tell  her  of  how 
things  had  gone  with  him  since  that  evil  day  when 
he  had  come  home  from  the  Castle  of  the  Ouest 
and  found  her  gone.  So  he  told  her  somewhat, 
and  of  his  dole  and  misery,  and  his  dealings  with 
the  foemen  of  Greenford  ;  but  yet  scantly,  and  as 
one  compelled ;  and  at  last  he  said  : 


5o6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

Dear  love,  since  thou  art  cossetting  me  with  all 
solace  of  caresses,  I  pray  thee  remember  my  trouble 
and  grief,  how  sore  they  were,  and  do  with  me  as 
with  a  sick  man  getting  well,  as  I  wot  surely  thou 
wouldest  do ;  and  do  thou  that  which  is  at  this  pres- 
ent the  softest  and  merriest  to  me,  and  that  for- 
sooth is,  that  thou  shouldest  talk  and  tell,  and  I 
should  hearken  the  sweetness  of  the  music,  and 
only  here  and  there  put  in  a  word  to  rest  thee  and 
make  thy  tale  the  sweeter. 

She  laughed  with  love  on  him,  and  without  more 
ado  fell  to  telling  everything  she  might  think  of, 
concerning  her  days  in  the  House  of  Captivity, 
both  when  she  was  but  a  bairn,  and  when  she  was 
grown  to  be  a  young  woman ;  and  long  was  she 
about  the  tale,  nor  was  it  all  done  in  one  day;  and 
a  multitude  of  things  she  told  him  which  are  not 
set  down  in  this  book. 

In  the  evening  when  they  were  going  again  to 
and  fro  the  meads,  it  was  other  talk  they  fell  on,  to 
wit,  of  their  fellows  of  the  Quest,  both  of  Sir  Hugh 
and  the  three  lovely  ladies  :  and  now  was  Arthur 
nought  but  kind  when  he  spake  of  Atra,  nor  spake 
Birdalone  otherwise  ;  but  she  said  :  I  shall  now  say 
a  hard  word,  yet  must  thou  bear  it,  my  loveling, 
since  we  twain  are  now  become  one,  and  have  but 
one  joy  together  and  one  sorrow.  Deemest  thou 
that  Atra  is  yet  alive  ?  Sooth  it  is,  said  Arthur,  it 
may  well  be  that  I  have  slain  her.  And  what  may 
we  do  by  her  if  ever  we  fall  in  with  her  alive  .?  said 
Birdalone.  I  wot  not,  said  Arthur ;  some  would 
say  that  we  have  done  penance  for  our  fault,  both 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  507 

thou  and  I ;  and  what  other  penance  may  we  do, 
save  sundering  from  each  other  ?  And  by  God 
above  I  will  not.  By  thine  head  and  thine  hands 
I  will  not,  said  Birdalone. 

So  said  they  ;  but  therewith  their  eyes  told  tales 
of  the  fair  eve  and  the  lovely  meadows,  and  the 
house,  the  shrine  of  the  dear  white  bed  no  less  sweet 
to  them  than  erst ;  but  then  presently  Birdalone 
stayed  her  love,  and  took  her  arms  about  him,  and 
each  felt  the  sweetness  of  the  other's  body,  and  joy 
blossomed  anew  in  their  hearts.  Then  fell  Arthur 
to  telling  of  the  deeds  and  the  kindness  of  Baudoin, 
whom  never  again  they  should  see  on  the  earth  ; 
and  they  turned  back  home  to  the  house,  and  on 
the  way  spake  Birdalone  :  This  is  what  I  would 
we  should  do  :  whereas  I  have  sought  thee  and 
thou  me,  and  we  have  found  each  other,  whereas 
ye  sought  me  when  I  went  astray  in  the  Black  Val- 
ley of  the  Greywethers,  and  before,  when  ye  three 
sought  your  own  loves,  now  I  would  that  we  should 
seek  our  fellows  and  have  joy  in  them,  and  thole 
sorrow  with  them  as  in  days  gone  by. 

Spake  Arthur  :  Dear  is  the  rest  with  thee  in  this 
wilderness  ;  yet  were  it  a  deed  of  fame,  and  would 
bring  about  a  day  of  joy,  might  we  find  our  friends 
again,  and  knit  up  the  links  of  the  fellowship  once 
more.  But  thou  the  wise  and  valiant  !  belike  thou 
hast  in  thine  head  some  device  whereby  this  might 
be  set  about. 

Birdalone  said  :  Simple  is  my  device,  to  wit,  that 
we  ask  one  who  is  wiser  than  I.  Let  us  tarry  not, 
but  go  to-morrow  and  see  the  wood-wife  and  talk 


5o8     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

with  her  concerning  it  Then  she  smiled  upon  him 
and  said :  But  when  thou  seest  her,  wilt  thou  be 
aghast  if  she  come  before  us  in  my  shape  of  what 
I  was  five  years  agone,  or  six  ? 

Nay,  nay,  he  said,  thou  art  not  so  terrible  as  that; 
not  very  far  do  I  run  from  thee  now.  And  there- 
with they  kissed  and  embraced,  and  so  entered  the 
House  of  Love. 


CHAPTER  XXX.  THEY  HAVE  SPEECH 
WITH  HABUNDIA  CONCERNING  THE 
GREEN  KNIGHT  AND  HIS  FELLOWS. 

WH  EN  the  morrow  was  they  arose  and  went 
their  ways  toward  the  wood,  and  Bird- 
alone  in  her  hunter's  coat,  quiver  at  back 
and  bow  in  hand.  They  came  to  the  Oak  of  Tryst, 
and  Birdalone  was  at  point  to  call  on  the  wood-wife 
by  the  burning  of  a  hair  of  hers,  when  she  came 
lightly  from  out  the  thicket,  clad  as  Birdalone,  and 
her  very  image.  She  stood  before  them  with  a  glad 
countenance, and  said:  Welcome  to  the  seekers  and 
finders.  But  Arthur  stepped  forth  and  knelt  before 
her,  and  took  her  right  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  said : 
Here  I  swear  allegiance  to  thee,  O  Lady  of  the 
Woods,  to  do  thy  will  in  all  things,  and  give  thee 
thanks  from  my  heart  more  than  my  tongue  can 
say. 

Quoth  the  wood-wife  :  I  take  thine  allegiance, 
fair  young  man,  and  mine  help  shalt  thou  have 
henceforward.  Then  she  smiled  and  her  eyes 
danced  for  merriment,  and  she  said:  Yet  thy  thanks 
meseemeth  for  this  while  are  more  due  to  the  wise 
carline  who  brought  thee  through  the  woods  two 
days  ago,  and  only  left  thee  when  the  way  was  easy 
and  clear  to  thee. 

Lady,  said  Arthur,  I  know  now  how  great  is  thy 
might,  and  that  thou  canst  take  more  shapes  than 
this  only ;  and  humbly  I  thank  thee  that  for  us  thou 
hast  taken  the  shape  that  I  love  the  best  of  all  on 
the  earth. 


5IO     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Said  the  wood-wife:  Stand  up,  Black  Squire,  and 
consider  a  little  what  thou  wouldst  have  me  do  for 
thee,  while  I  have  speech  with  mine  image  yonder. 
And  therewith  she  came  up  to  Birdalone,  and  drew 
her  a  little  apart,  and  fell  to  stroking  her  cheeks  and 
patting  her  hands  and  diversely  caressing  her,  and 
she  said  to  her  :  How  now,  my  child,  have  I  done 
for  thee  what  I  promised,  and  art  thou  wholly  happy 
now  ?  O  yea,  said  Birdalone  ;  if  nought  else  be- 
fell us  in  this  life  but  to  dwell  together  betwixt  the 
woodland  and  the  water,  and  to  see  thee  oft,  full 
happy  should  we  be. 

Nevertheless,  said  Habundia,  art  thou  not  come 
hither  to  ask  somewhat  of  me,  that  ye  may  be 
happier  ?  So  it  is,  wise  mother,  said  Birdalone  ; 
grudge  not  against  me  therefor,  for  more  than  one 
thing  drives  me  thereto.  I  will  not  grudge,  said  the 
wood-wife  ;  but  now  I  will  ask  thy  mate  if  he  has 
thought  what  it  is  that  he  will  have  of  me.  And 
she  turned  to  Arthur,  who  came  forth  and  said : 
Lady,  I  have  heard  thee,  and  herein  would  we  have 
thee  help  us :  There  were  erst  six  fellows  of  us, 
three  carles  and  three  queans,  to  whom  was  added 
this  sweetling  here ;  but  one  of  them,  to  wit  the 
Golden  Knight,  was  slain,  and  for  the  rest  .  .  .  Yea, 
I  know,  said  the  wood-wife  ;  my  child  here  hath 
told  me  all  ;  and  now  ye  wot  not  where  they  are 
or  if  they  be  yet  alive,  all  or  any  of  them.  Now 
is  it  not  so  that  ye  would  seek  these  friends,  if  it 
were  but  to  greet  them  but  once,  and  that  ye  would 
ask  of  the  wise  wood-wife  help  to  find  them  ?  Is 
there  any  more  of  the  tale  ^    Nay,  lady,  said  Arthur. 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  51 1 

Said  she  :  Well  then,  that  help  shall  ye  have,  were 
it  but  for  the  sake  of  that  little  Viridis  whereof  my 
child  hath  told  me.  Wherefore  abide  tidings  of 
me  for  a  fourteen  days,  and  seek  not  to  me  ere 
then  ;  and  meantime  fear  not,  nor  doubt  me,  for 
many  messengers  I  have,  and  ever  may  I  do  some- 
what if  the  end  of  the  tale  is  to  be  told  in  these 
woodlands  :  and  I  deem  these  friends  will  not  be 
hard  to  draw  hither,  for  it  is  most  like  that  they 
be  thinking  of  you  and  longing  for  you,  as  ye  for 
them.  And  now  I  will  depart  on  my  business, 
which  is  yours,  and  do  ye  be  happy  to-day  in  the 
woodland,  and  to-morrow  in  the  meadows  and  by 
the  water ;  and  let  no  trouble  weigh  down  your 
happy  days. 

Therewith  she  flitted  away  from  them,  when  she 
had  kissed  them  both.  But  when  she  was  gone 
they  fared  away  together  deep  into  the  wood,  and 
were  exceeding  merry  disporting  them,  and  on  their 
return  they  gat  them  venison  for  their  meat,  and 
so  came  back  to  the  House  of  Love  when  the  moon 
was  up  and  shining  brightly. 


CHAPTER  XXXI.  HABUNDIA  COM- 
ETH WITH  TIDINGS  OF  THOSE  DEAR 
FRIENDS. 

WORE  the  days  thenceforth  merrily;  and 
one  day  it  was  deHght  in  the  wide  meads, 
and  another  they  went  a  long  way  west 
along  the  water-side,  and  so  into  another  meadow- 
plain,  smaller  than  their  home-plain,  which  Birda- 
lone  had  never  erst  come  into  ;  and  three  eyots 
lay  off  it,  green  and  tree-beset,  whereto  they  swam 
out  together.  Then  they  went  into  the  wood 
thereby  in  the  heat  of  the  afternoon,  and  so  wore 
the  day,  that  they  deemed  themselves  belated,  and 
lay  there  under  a  thorn-bush  the  night  through. 

Another  day  Birdalone  took  her  mate  over  on 
to  Green  Eyot  and  Rock  Eyot,  and  showed  him 
all  the  places  she  was  used  to  haunt.  And  they 
had  their  fishing-gear  with  them,  and  angled  off 
the  eyots  a  good  part  of  the  day,  and  had  good 
catch,  and  swam  back  therewith  merrily.  And 
Birdalone  laughed,  and  said  that  it  seemed  to  her 
as  if  once  again  she  were  ransoming  her  skin  of  the 
witch-wife  bv  that  noble  catch. 

Divers  times  also  they  fared  into  the  wood,  and 
thrice  they  lay  out  the  night  there  in  some  wood- 
lawn  where  was  water;  and  on  one  of  these  times 
it  happed  that  Arthur  awoke  in  the  grey  dawn, 
and  lay  open-eyed  but  not  moving  for  a  little;  and 
therewith  he  deemed  he  saw  the  gleam  of  war-gear 
in  the  thicket.  So  he  kept  as  still  as  he  might, 
but  gat  his  sword  out  of  its  sheath  without  noise. 


THE   DAYS    OF   ABSENCE  513 

and  then  leapt  up  suddenly,  and  sprang  thither- 
ward whereas  he  had  seen  that  token,  and  again 
saw  armour  gleam  and  heard  some  man  crashing 
through  the  underwood,  for  all  was  gone  in  one  ' 
moment.  So  he  woke  up  Birdalone,  and  they 
bended  their  bows  both  of  them,  and  searched  the 
thicket  thereabouts  heedfully,  arrow  on  string,  but 
found  nought  fiercer  than  a  great  sow  and  her 
farrow.  So  came  the  full  day,  and  they  gat  them 
back  to  their  meadows  and  their  house  ;  but  there- 
after were  they  warier  in  going  about  the  wood- 
land. 

In  all  joyance  then  wore  the  days  till  the  fif- 
teenth, and  in  the  morning  early  they  went  their 
ways  to  the  Oak  of  Tryst,  and  had  no  need  to  call 
Habundia  to  them,  for  presently  she  came  forth 
out  of  the  thicket,  with  her  gown  gathered  up  into 
her  girdle  and  bow  in  hand.    But  she  cast  it  down 
and  ran  up  to  Birdalone,  and  kissed  her  and  clipped 
her,  and  then  she  took  a  hand  of  Arthur  and  a 
hand  of  Birdalone,  and  held  them  both  and  said  : 
My  child,  and  thou  dear  knight,  have  ye  still  a 
longing  to  fall  in  with  those  friends  of  yours,  and 
to  run  all  risk  of  whatsoever  contention  and  strife 
there  may  be  betwixt  you  thereafter  ?     Yea,  certes, 
said  Arthur ;  and  even  so  said  Birdalone.     Well 
is  that  then,  said  the  wood-wife ;  but  now  and  for 
this  time,  ere  I  help  you,  I  shall  put  a  price  upon 
my  help,  and  this  is  the  price,  that  ye  swear  to  me 
never  wholly  to  sunder  from  me;  that  once  in  the 
year  at  least,  as  long  as  ye  be  alive  and  wayworthy, 
ye  come  into  the  Forest  of  Evilshaw,  and  summon 


5T4     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

me  by  the  burning  of  a  hair  of  mine,  that  we  may- 
meet  and  be  merry  for  a  while,  and  part  with  the 
hope  of  meeting  once  more  at  least.  And  if  ye 
will  not  pay  the  price,  go  in  peace,  and  ye  shall 
yet  have  my  help  in  all  other  matters  that  may 
seem  good  unto  you,  but  not  in  this  of  joining  your 
fellowship  together.  How  say  est  thou,  Birdalone, 
my  child  ?  How  sayest  thou.  Black  Squire,  whom, 
as  meseemeth,  I  have  delivered  from  a  fate  worse 
than  death,  and  have  brought  out  of  wretchedness 
into  bliss  ? 

Spake  Birdalone  :  Had  I  dared,  I  would  have 
bidden  thee  to  swear  to  me  even  such  an  oath,  to 
wit,  that  thou  wouldst  never  wholly  sunder  thee 
from  me.  How  then  may  I  not  swear  this  that 
thou  biddest  me,  and  that  with  all  joy  and  trus- 
tiness ? 

Spake  Arthur :  Lady,  had  I  no  will  to  swear 
this  oath  for  thy  sake,  yet  with  a  good  will  would 
I  swear  it  for  my  true-love's  sake  who  loveth  thee. 
Yet  verily  of  mine  ov/n  will  would  I  swear  it  joy- 
fully, were  it  for  nought  else  save  to  pleasure  thee, 
who  hast  done  so  kindly  by  me,  and  hath  given  me 
back  my  manhood  and  my  love,  which  else  I  had 
miserably  lost. 

Spake  the  wood-wife  :  It  is  well  again  'join  hands 
then,  and  swear  as  I  have  bidden  you  by  the  love 
ye  bear  each  other. 

Even  so  they  did,  and  then  the  wood-wife  kissed 
them  both  and  said :  Now  do  I  deem  you  earth's 
very  children  and  mine,  and  this  desire  of  yours  is 
good,  and  it  shall  be  done  if  I  may  bring  it  about ; 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  515 

yet  therein  the  valiance  and  wisdom  of  you  both 
may  well  be  tried.  For  this  have  I  found  out 
by  my  messengers  and  others,  that  your  friends 
are  alive,  all  of  them  ;  and  they  have  thought  of 
you  in  their  inmost  hearts,  and  have  long  deter- 
mined that  they  must  needs  go  seek  you  if  they 
are  to  live  lives  happy  and  worthy.  Furthermore, 
their  quest  hath  drawn  them  hither  to  Evilshaw 
(nor  say  I  that  I  have  been  nothing  therein),  and 
they  are  even  now  in  the  wood.  But  ye  shall 
know  that  peril  encompasses  them  ;  for  they  fare 
but  a  few,  and  of  those  few  be  there  two  traitors 
who  are  minded  to  deliver  them  to  the  men  of  the 
Red  Company,  unto  whom  three  women  as  fair  as 
your  she-friends  were  a  prize  indeed.  Wherefore 
the  Red  Folk  are  dogging  them,  and  will  fall  upon 
them  when  they  find  the  occasion.  But  I  shall 
see  to  it  that  the  occasion  shall  be  in  time  and 
place  where  they  shall  not  be  unholpen.  Now 
what  ye  have  to  do  for  your  parts,  is  to  waylay  the 
waylayers,  and  keep  watch  and  ward  anigh  the  road 
they  must  needs  take,  and  to  fall  on  when  need  is. 
But  this  again  I  shall  see  to,  that  your  onset  fail  not. 
But  now  ye  may  say  :  Since  thou  art  mighty, 
why  shouldst  not  thou  thyself  take  our  friends 
out  of  the  hands  of  these  accursed,  as  thou  couldst 
well  do,  and  we  to  take  no  part  therein  ?  My 
friends,  this  might  indeed  well  be  ;  but  thou.  Bird- 
alone,  hast  told  me  the  whole  tale,  and  how  that 
there  be  wrongs  to  be  forgiven  which  cannot  be 
made  right,  and  past  kindness  to  be  quickened 
again,  and  coldness  to  be  kindled  into  love,  and 


5i6     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

estrangement  into  familiar  friendship  ;  and  me- 
seems  that  the  sight  of  your  bodies  and  your 
hands  made  manifest  to  the  eyes  of  them  may 
do  somewhat  herein.  Yet  if  otherwise  ye  think, 
then  so  let  it  be,  and  go  ye  back  to  the  House 
under  the  Wood,  and  in  three  days'  time  I  will 
bring  you  your  friends  all  safe  and  sound. 

Now  they  both  said  that  they  would  not  for  aught 
that  they  should  have  no  hand  in  the  deliverance 
of  them  ;  so  the  wood-wife  said  :  Come  with  me, 
and  I  shall  lead  you  to  the  place  of  your  ambush. 

Then  all  they  went  on  together,  and  fared  a  long 
way  west,  and  toward  the  place  where  erst  they 
two  had  found  Arthur;  and  at  last,  two  hours 
before  sunset,  they  came  to  where  was  a  glade  or 
way  between  the  thickets,  which  was  as  it  were  a 
little  beaten  by  the  goings  of  man-folk.  And  the 
wood-wife  did  them  to  wit,  that  the  evil  folk  afore- 
said had  so  used  it  and  beaten  it,  that  it  might  just 
look  as  if  folk  were  wont  to  pass  that  way,  where- 
as it  was  not  very  far  from  their  chiefest  haunt  and 
stronghold.  A  little  on  the  north  side  of  this  half- 
blind  way,  and  some  ten  yards  through  the  thicket, 
the  ground  fell  away  into  a  little  dale,  the  bottom 
whereof  was  plain  and  well  grassed,  and  watered  by 
a  brook. 

Thither  the  wood-wife  brought  the  twain  ;  and 
when  they  all  stood  together  on  the  brook-side,  she 
said  to  them  :  Dear  friends,  this  is  your  woodland 
house  for  this  time,  and  I  rede  you  go  not  forth  of 
it,  lest  ye  happen  upon  any  of  fhose  evil  men  ;  for 
nought  have  ye  to  fear  from  any  save  them.    Here 


THE   DAYS   OF   ABSENCE  517 

amidst  these  big  stones,  which  make,  see  ye,  as  it 
were  a  cavern,  have  I  stowed  victual  for  you  ;  and 
armour  therewithal,  because,  though  both  of  you 
are  in  a  manner  armed,  yet  who  knoweth  where  a 
shaft  drawn  at  a  venture  may  reach. 

And  from  the  said  stones  she  drew  forth  two 
very  fair  armours,  helm  and  hauberk,  and  leg  and 
arm  wards  ;  and  they  were  all  of  green,  and  shone 
but  little,  but  were  fashioned  as  no  smith  of  man- 
folk  could  have  done  the  like. 

This  is  thine.  Sir  Arthur,  said  the  wood-wife,  and 
thou  wilt  wear  it  like  as  it  were  silk  ;  and  this  thine, 
my  child,  and  thou  art  strong  enough  to  bear  such 
light  gear.  And  I  charge  you  both  to  do  on  this 
gear  presently,  nor  do  it  off  till  ye  have  achieved 
the  adventure.  And  now  this  is  the  last  word :  here 
is  a  horn  of  oliphant  which  thou  shalt  wear  about 
thy  neck,  Birdalone ;  and  if  thou  be  sore  bestead, 
or  thy  heart  faileth  thee,  blow  in  it,  yet  not  before 
the  onfall ;  and  then,  whether  thou  blow  much  or 
little,  thou  shalt  be  well  holpen. 

Now  be  not  downcast  if  nought  befall  to-night 
or  to-morrow,  or  even  the  day  after;  but  if  the  third 
day  be  tidingless,  then  at  sunset  burn  a  hair  of  my 
head,  Birdalone,  and  I  will  come  to  you.  And  now 
farewell  !  for  I  have  yet  to  do  in  this  matter. 

With  that  she  kissed  Birdalone  fondly  and  em- 
braced Arthur,  and  went  her  way  ;  and  those  twain 
abode  in  the  dale,  and  slept  and  watched  by  turns, 
and  all  was  tidingless  till  the  morrow's  dawn ;  neither 
was  there  aught  to  tell  of  on  that  day  and  the  night 
that  ended  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXII.  OF  THE  FIGHT  IN 
THE  FOREST  AND  THE  RESCUE  OF 
THOSE  FRIENDS  FROM  THE  MEN  OF 
THE  RED  COMPANY. 

LIGHT  was  growing  on  the  dawn  of  the  next 
day,  and  the  colours  of  things  could  be  seen, 
when  Birdalone,  who  was  holding  this  last 
watch  of  the  night,  stood  still  and  hearkened,  deem- 
ing that  she  could  hear  some  noise  that  was  neither 
the  morning  wind  in  the  tree-boughs  nor  the  going 
of  the  wild  things  anear  them  in  the  wood. 

So  she  did  off  her  helm  to  hear  the  better,  and 
stood  thus  a  little ;  then  she  turned  about  and  stooped 
down  to  Arthur,  who  was  yet  sleeping,  and  put  forth 
a  hand  to  rouse  him.  But  or  ever  she  touched 
him,  broke  forth  a  sound  of  big  and  rough  voices 
and  laughter,  and  amidst  it  two  shrieks  as  of 
women. 

Arthur  heard  it,  and  was  on  his  feet  in  a  moment, 
and  helmed,  and  he  caught  up  his  bended  bow  and 
cast  on  the  quiver  (for  Birdalone  was  already  weap- 
oned),  and  without  more  words  they  went  forth 
swiftly  up  the  bank  and  through  the  thicket  till 
they  were  looking  on  the  half-blind  way,  but  under 
cover,  and  there  was  nothing  before  them  as  yet. 

There  they  stayed  and  hearkened  keenly.  There 
were  no  more  shrieks  of  women,  nor  heard  they  any 
weapon  clash,  but  the  talking  and  laughter  of  men 
went  on ;  and  at  last  they  heard  a  huge  and  grim 
whoop  of  many  men  together;  and  then  thereafter 
was  less  sound  of  talking,  but  came  thejingle  as  of 


THE    DAYS   OF    ABSENCE  519 

arms  and  harness  ;  and  Arthur  whispered  in  Bird- 
alone's  ear  :  Stand  close  !  they  have  gotten  to  horse, 
and  will  be  coming  our  way.  Nock  an  arrow.  And 
even  so  did  he. 

Therewith  they  heard  clearly  the  riding  of  men, 
and  in  less  than  five  minutes'  space  they  saw  three 
big  weaponed  men  riding  together,  clad  in  red  sur- 
coats,  and  they  were  so  nigh  that  they  heard  the 
words  of  their  speech.  One  said  to  the  other :  How 
long  shall  the  knight  hold  out,  think  ye  ?  Oh,  a 
week  maybe,  said  the  other.  Meseems  it  was  scathe 
that  we  stayed  not  a  while  to  pine  him,  said  the  first 
man.  Nay,  said  the  second,  we  be  over-heavy 
laden  with  bed-gear  to  tarry.  And  they  all  laughed 
thereat,  and  so  went  on  out  of  hearing. 

But  then  came  four  on  together,  whereof  one,  a 
gaunt,  oldish  man,  was  saying:  It  is  not  so  much 
how  long  we  shall  be  getting  there,  but  what  shall 
betide  when  we  get  there.  For  this  is  not  like  lift- 
ing a  herd  of  neat,  whereof  sharing  is  easy,  but  with 
this  naked-skinned,  two-legged  cattle,  which  for- 
sooth ye  can  eat  and  yet  have,  there  may  well  be 
strife  over  the  sharing.  And  look  to  it  if  it  hath 
not  begun  already:  we  must  needs  dismount  three 
of  our  best  men  that  these  white-skinned  bitches 
forsooth  may  each  have  a  horse  to  herself,  or  else 
would  they  be  fighting  as  to  which  should  have  a 
damsel  of  them  before  him  on  the  saddle  :  curse 
the  fools  ! 

Laughed  out  they  who  were  about  him,  and  one 
young  man  cast  a  jeer  at  him  the  meaning  whereot 
they  might  not  catch,  and  again  they  laughed  ;  and 


520     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

that  deal  passed  on.  And  next  came  a  bigger  rout, 
a  half  score  or  so,  and  they  also  laughing  and  jeer- 
ing ;  but  amidst  them,  plain  to  see  riding  a-strad- 
dle,  their  ankles  twisted  together  under  the  horses' 
bellies,  their  hands  bound  behind  them,  first  Atra, 
black-clad  as  erst ;  then  Aurea,  in  a  gown  of  wheat- 
colour  ;  then  Viridis,  green-clad.  Atra  rode  upright, 
and  looking  straight  before  her;  Aurea  hung  her 
head  all  she  might,  and  her  long  red  hair  fell  about 
her  face  ;  but  Viridis  had  swooned,  and  was  held 
up  in  the  saddle  by  one  of  the  caitiffs  on  each  side 
of  her.  They  were  but  little  disarrayed,  save  that 
some  felon  had  torn  the  bosom  of  Viridis'  gown, 
and  dragged  down  the  cloth  so  that  her  left  shoulder 
was  bare. 

Arthur  looked,  and  drew  at  the  caitiff  who  went 
afoot  beside  Atra,  and  Birdalone  at  him  who  went 
by  Viridis,  for  she  wotted  whitherward  Arthur's 
shaft  would  be  turned.  The  loose  of  the  two  bows 
made  but  one  sound ;  both  men  fell  stark  dead, 
and  the  others  huddled  together  a  moment,  and 
then  ran  toward  the  thicket  on  either  hand,  and 
they  who  ran  north,  two  of  them  saw  not  Arthur, 
because  of  his  green  armour,  ere  they  felt  the  death 
which  lay  in  his  sword.  And  then  he  brake  out 
amidst  them,  and  there  were  three  of  them  on  him, 
yet  for  no  long  while,  whereas  their  weapons  bit 
not  on  the  armour  of  the  Faery,  and  his  woodland 
blade  sheared  leather  and  ring-mail  to  the  flesh  and 
the  bone :  mighty  were  his  strokes,  and  presently 
all  three  were  wallowing  on  the  earth. 

Even  therewith  the  seven  who  had  passed  on 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  52 1 

had  turned  back  and  were  come  on  him  a-horse- 
back  ;  and  hard  had  it  gone  with  him,  despite  of 
his  might  and  his  valour  and  the  trustiness  of 
Habundia's  mail.  But  meanwhile  Birdalone  had 
run  to  Viridis,  who  had  fallen  a  dead  weight  aside 
of  her  horse,  and  lay  half  hanging  by  the  bonds  of 
her  ankles.  Birdalone  swiftly  cut  the  cords  both  of 
her  feet  and  her  hands,  and  drew  her  off  her  horse 
as  best  she  might,  and  laid  her  down  on  the  grass  ; 
and  then  ran  to  Arthur  sword  aloft,  just  as  his  new 
battle  was  at  point  to  begin. 

But  as  she  ran  it  came  into  her  mind  in  a  twink- 
ling that  her  sword  would  be  but  weak,  and  the  horn 
hung  about  her  neck.  Then  she  stayed  her  feet, 
and  set  the  horn  to  her  lips  and  blew  ;  and  the  oli- 
phant  gave  forth  a  long  singing  note  which  was 
strange  to  hear.  But  while  it  was  yet  at  her  lips 
one  of  the  caitiffs  was  upon  her,  and  he  cried  out : 
Hah  the  witch,  the  accursed  green  witch !  and  fetched 
her  a  great  stroke  from  his  saddle,  and  smote  her 
on  the  helm  ;  and  though  his  sword  bit  not  on  that 
good  head-burg,  she  fell  to  the  ground  unwitting. 

Yet  was  not  the  wood-wife's  promise  unavailing, 
for  even  while  the  voice  of  the  horn  was  in  the  air, 
the  wav  and  thickets  were  alive  with  men-at-arms, 
green-clad  as  those  twain,  who  straightway  fell  on 
the  caitiffs,  and  with  Arthur  to  help,  left  not  one 
of  them  alive.  Then  went  some  to  Viridis,  and 
raised  her  up,  and  so  dealt  with  her  that  she  came 
to  herself  again ;  and  the  like  they  did  by  Birdalone, 
and  she  stood,  and  looked  about  confusedly,  but 
yet  saw  this,  that  they  had  gotten  the  victory.  Some 


522     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

went  withal  to  Aurea,  and  cut  her  bonds  and  took 
her  off  her  horse  and  set  her  on  the  ground ;  and 
she  was  all  bewildered,  and  knew  not  where  she  was. 

But  Arthur,  when  he  saw  Birdalone  on  her  feet, 
and  unhurt  by  seeming,  went  to  Atra,  and  cut  her 
bonds  and  loosed  her,  and  set  her  on  the  earth,  all 
without  a  word,  and  then  stood  before  her  shyly. 
Came  the  colour  back  into  her  face  therewith,  and 
she  flushed  red,  for  she  knew  him  despite  his  out- 
landish green  war-harness,  and  she  reached  out  her 
hand  to  him,  and  he  knelt  before  her  and  took  her 
hand  and  kissed  it.  But  she  bent  over  him  till  her 
face  was  anigh  his,  and  he  lifted  up  his  face  and  kissed 
her  mouth.  And  she  drew  aback  a  little,  but  yet 
looked  on  him  earnestly,  and  said :  Thou  hast 
saved  my  life,  not  from  death  indeed,  but  from  a 
loathsome  hell  ;  I  may  well  thank  thee  for  that. 
And  O,  if  my  thanks  might  be  fruitful  to  thee  ! 
And  her  bosom  heaved,  and  the  sobs  came,  and 
the  tears  began  to  run  down  her  cheeks.  And  he 
hung  his  head  before  her.  But  in  a  while  she  left 
weeping,  and  turned  about  her  face  and  looked 
round  the  field  of  deed  ;  and  she  said  :  Who  is 
yonder  slim  green  warrior  who  hath  even  now  knelt 
down  by  Viridis  ?  Is  it  not  a  woman  ?  Arthur  red- 
dened :  Yea,  said  he  ;  it  is  Birdalone.  Thy  love  ? 
she  said.  He  said  swiftly  :  Yea,  and  thy  friend, 
and  this  time  thy  deliverer.  So  it  is,  she  said.  It 
is  five  years  since  I  beheld  her.  My  heart  yearns 
for  her  ;   I  shall  rejoice  at  the  meeting  of  us. 

She  was  silent,  and  he  also  a  while  ;  then  she 
said  :   But  why  tarry  we  here  in  idle  talk  when  he  is 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  ^2;} 

yet  bound,  and  in  torment  of  body  and  soul  ;  he  the 
valiant,  and  the  kind  and  the  dear  brother  ?  Come, 
tarry  for  no  question.  And  she  stepped  out  swiftly 
along  the  green  road  going  westward,  and  Arthur 
beside  her  ;  and  as  they  went  by  Viridis,  lo  !  Aurea 
had  wandered  unto  them,  and  now  was  Birdalone 
unhelmed  and  kissing  and  comforting  her.  Then 
cried  out  Atra  :  Keep  up  thine  heart,  Viridis  !  for 
now  we  go  to  fetch  thee  thy  man  safe  and  sound. 

So  they  went  but  a  little  way  on  the  green  road 
ere  they  came  to  Sir  Hugh  bound  hard  and  fast  to 
a  tree-bole,  and  he  naked  in  his  shirt,  and  hard  by 
lay  the  bodies  of  two  stout  carles  with  their  throats 
cut ;  for  these  honest  men  and  the  two  felons  who 
had  betrayed  them  were  all  the  following  where- 
with the  Green  Knight  had  entered  Evilshaw.  And 
as  it  fell,  the  traitors  had  been  set  to  watch  while 
the  others  slept  ;  and  sleeping  the  caitiffs  found 
them,  and  slew  the  said  men-at-arms  at  once,  but 
bound  Hugh  to  a  tree  that  he  might  be  the  longer 
a-dying  ;  since  none  looked  for  any  but  their  own 
folk  to  pass  by  that  way.  All  this  they  heard  after- 
wards of  Hugh, 

But  now  the  said  Hugh  heard  men  going,  and 
he  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw  Atra  and  a  man-at- 
arms  with  her  ;  and  he  cried  out  :  Hah,  what  is 
this  now,  sister  ?  a  rescue  ?  Yea,  she  said,  and  look 
thou  on  the  face  of  the  rescuer ;  and  there  is  an- 
other hard  by,  and  she  is  a  woman. 

Therewith  was  Arthur  on  him  and  cutting  his 
bonds,  and  when  he  was  loose  they  fell  into  each 
other's  arms,  and  Hugh  spake  :   Now  then  at  last 


524     THE  WATER   OF   THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

doth  life  begin  for  me  as  I  willed  it  !  And  hast 
thou  my  sweet  she-fellow,  Birdalone,  with  thee  ? 
Yea,  said  Arthur.  How  good  is  that !  said  Hugh. 
And  yet,  if  it  might  but  be  that  Baudoin  were  yet 
alive  for  us  to  seek  !  Then  he  laughed  and  said  : 
These  be  but  sorry  garments  wherewith  to  wend 
along  with  dear  and  fair  ladies,  brother  !  Nay,  said 
Arthur,  that  may  soon  be  amended,  for  yonder, 
where  sword  met  sword,  lieth  raiment  abundantly 
on  the  grass.  Fie  on  it  !  said  Hugh,  laughing  ; 
shall  I  do  on  me  the  raiment  of  those  lousy  traitors? 
Not  I,  by  the  rood  !  Thou  must  seek  further  for 
my  array,  dear  lad  !  So  they  all  laughed,  and  were 
glad  to  laugh  together.  But  Atra  said:  It  is  easier 
even  than  that,  for  thine  own  fair  garments  and 
weapons  shall  we  find  if  we  seek  them.  Sooth  to 
say  there  was  none  left  to  bear  them  off,  save  it 
were  this  man,  or  Birdalone  his  mate. 

With  that  word  she  looked  kindly  on  Arthur, 
and  again  they  laughed  all  three  ;  though  forsooth 
they  were  well-nigh  weeping-ripe  ;  one  for  joy,  and 
that  was  Hugh  ;  one  for  memory  of  the  days  gone 
by  ;  and  one  for  the  bitterness  of  love  that  should 
never  be  rewarded  ;  albeit  dear  even  unto  her  was 
the  meeting  of  friends  and  the  glory  of  forgiveness 
and  the  end  of  enmity. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII.    VIRIDIS  TELLETH 
THE  TALE  OF  THEIR  SEEKING. 

NOW  came  they  back  to  where  were  the  three 
others,  and  Viridis  was  quite  come  to  her- 
self and  ran  to  meet  her  man,  and  he  took 
her  in  his  arms  and  caressed  her  sweetly  ;  and  then 
he  turned  to  Birdalone,  and  spared  no  sign  of 
friendly  love  to  her;  and  Arthur,  for  his  part,  did 
so  much  for  Aurea  and  Viridis.  No  long  tale  there 
was  between  them  for  that  while,  for  they  would 
busk  them  to  be  gone.  But  first  they  dug  a  grave 
for  those  two  poor  men  who  had  been  slain  by  the 
felons,  and  prayed  for  them.  As  for  the  caitiffs  who 
lay  slain  there,  one  score  and  two  of  them,  they  left 
them  for  the  wolves  to  devour,  and  the  tearing  of 
the  kites  and  crows  ;  nor  meddled  they  with  any 
of  their  gear  or  weapons.  But  they  speedily  found 
Hugh's  raiment,  and  his  pouch,  wherein  was  money 
good  store  ;  and  they  found  also  rings  and  ouches 
and  girdles,  which  had  been  torn  from  the  damsels 
in  the  first  rage  of  their  taking. 

First  though,  when  they  had  gathered  together 
such  horses  as  they  needed,  and  let  the  rest  run 
wild,  Birdalone  brought  her  she-friends  down  into 
the  dale,  and  did  them  to  bathe  in  a  pool  of  the 
stream,  and  tended  them  as  if  she  were  their  tire- 
woman, so  that  they  were  mightily  refreshed;  and 
she  made  garlands  for  them  of  the  woodland 
flowers,  as  eglantine  and  honeysuckle  ;  and  her- 
self, she  bathed  her,  and  did  not  on  her  battle-gear 
again,  but  clad   her  body  in   her  woman's  array. 


526     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Then  she  brought  forth  victual  and  wine  from 
Habundia's  store,  and  set  it  out  on  the  stream-side ; 
and  thereafter  she  went  up  the  bent  to  the  green 
way  and  fetched  down  Hugh  and  Arthur,  and 
brought  them  to  the  ladies,  and  bade  them  note 
how  trim  and  lovely  they  were  gotten  again,  and 
again  it  could  scarce  be  but  that  kisses  and  caresses 
were  toward  ;  and  in  all  content  and  love  they  took 
their  breakfast,  though  bitter-sweet  unto  Atra  had 
been  the  holding  of  her  hand  by  Arthur  and  the 
kissing  of  her  cheek,  albeit  not  for  worlds  had  she 
foregone  it. 

So  there  they  abode  merrily  for  some  three  hours, 
whereas  the  day  was  yet  young  ;  and  they  asked 
and  told  each  other  much,  so  that  the  whole  tale, 
both  of  the  seekers  from  the  world  and  of  the  seek- 
ers from  the  water-side,  came  out  little  by  little. 
Now  of  the  last  ye  have  heard  what  there  is  to  tell, 
but  for  the  others  Viridis  took  up  the  tale,  as  erst 
she  did  with  the  dealings  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Guest  in  the  Isle  of  Increase  Unsought;  and  it 
seemed  by  her  tale  that  Hugh  and  the  ladies,  though 
they  were  living  happily  and  prosperously  in  the 
land  of  the  Green  Mountains,  wherein  Hugh  had 
wealth  enow,  yet  the  thought  both  of  Arthur  and 
of  Birdalone  would  not  out  of  their  minds,  and 
often  it  was  that  they  thought  of  them,  not  as 
friends  think  of  friends  of  whom  they  are  content 
to  know  that  they  are  yet  alive  and  most-like  thriv- 
ing, but  as  friends  think  of  friends  whose  absence 
cuts  a  shard  out  of  their  lives,  so  that  they  long  to 
see  them  day  by  day.     Wherefore  it  came  to  this 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  527 

at  last,  after  much  talk  hereof,  that  Hugh  left  his 
possessions  and  his  children  (for  he  had  two  women- 
bairns  born  of  Viridis)  in  the  keeping  of  trusty 
folk,  and  took  with  him  Viridis  his  wife,  and  Aurea 
and  Atra,  and  they  set  out  to  seek  those  twain  the 
world  over  till  they  should  find  them.  And  first 
by  the  rede  of  Atra  they  fared  to  Greenford,  and 
there  tarried  a  month,  and  sought  tidings  of  many, 
and  heard  a  word  here  and  there  whereby  they 
deemed  that  Birdalone  had  passed  therethrough 
some  little  time  before.  So  they  went  thence  to 
the  Castle  of  the  Ouest,  and  found  it  in  such  plight 
as  ye  have  heard,  and  it  went  sore  to  their  hearts 
to  behold  it  and  to  be  there.  But  therewithal  they 
happed  upon  Leonard  the  priest,  and  he  was  re- 
joiced beyond  measure  to  see  them,  and  told  them 
all  that  ye  have  heard  concerning  Birdalone's  coming 
thither  and  departing  thence;  and  he  told  them 
therewith  about  those  hauntings  and  sendings  in 
the  hall  of  the  castle,  and  that  they  came  to  an  end 
the  very  day  that  Birdalone  departed  thence  in  the 
Sending  Boat.  Yet  for  the  last  three  days  there  had 
been  visions  therein  ;  but  being  questioned  he  was 
loth  to  tell  thereof,  so  they  forbore  him  a  while. 

At  these  tidings  they  were  sore  moved,  and  they 
talked  the  matter  over  betwixt  themselves  (and 
Leonard  also  was  in  their  redes),  and  they  must 
needs  deem  that  either  Birdalone  was  cast  away,  or 
that  she  had  come  to  her  old  dwellino-  the  House 
under  the  Wood,  and  belike  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  witch  once  more,  and  thereat  were 
they  sore  downcast ;  and  yet  somewhat  it  was,  that 


528     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

they  had  heard  sure  tidings  of  her;  though  mean- 
while of  Arthur  had  they  heard  nought. 

While  they  talked  this  over,  Atra,  who  had  been 
somewhat  silent,  spake  and  said :  Here  are  we 
brought  to  a  stop  with  the  first  tidings  which  we 
have  heard,  whereas  we  know  no  manner  of  wend- 
ing the  Great  Water.  This  seemeth  evil,  but  let 
us  not  be  cast  down,  or  die  redeless.  Ye  have  heard 
of  what  sayeth  Sir  Leonard  of  these  hauntings  in 
the  hall,  and  how  that  they  have  come  back  again, 
wherefore  why  should  we  not  sleep  in  the  hall  this 
night,  those  of  us  at  least  who  have  not  so  much 
fear  as  not  to  note  them  well,  to  see  if  we  may  draw 
any  avail  from  them  ?  How  say  ye  ?  For  my  part 
I  will  try  the  adventure,  whatever  may  come  of  it. 

Now  they  all  yeasaid  it,  though  Aurea  was  some- 
what timorous,  albeit  she  would  not  be  parted  from 
the  others  ;  so  when  night  came  there  they  made 
their  beds  and  lay  down  ;  and  the  end  of  it  was, 
that  a  little  before  midnight  Atra  waked  the  others, 
and  did  them  to  wit  that  by  her  deeming  something 
was  toward  ;  and  presently  they  were  all  four  as 
wide  awake  as  ever  they  were  in  their  lives;  and 
next,  without  any  sound  that  was  strange,  there 
came  the  image  of  a  woman  on  to  the  dais,  clad  in 
green  like  to  an  huntress  of  ancient  days,  her  feet 
sandalled,  her  skirts  gathered  up  into  her  girdle,  so 
that  her  legs  were  naked ;  she  had  a  quiver  at  her 
back,  and  a  great  bow  in  her  hand. 

Now  to  all  of  them  save  Atra  this  appearance 
seemed  to  be  the  image  of  Birdalone  ;  but  she  told 
her  fellows  afterwards,  that  to  her  it  seemed  not 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  529 

to  be  altogether  Birdalone,  but  rather  some  other 
one  most  like  unto  her,  as  it  were  her  twin-sister. 

Gazed  the  image  kindly  and  sweetly  on  them, 
so  that  they  beheld  it  without  fear  ;  and  it  seemed 
to  them  that  it  gave  forth  speech  ;  yet  not  so  much 
that  the  sound  of  words  was  in  the  air  about  and 
smote  their  ears,  as  that  the  sense  of  words  reached 
the  minds  of  them.  And  this  was  the  tale  of  it : 
Ye,  who  are  seeking  the  lost,  have  done  well  to 
come  hither,  and  now  shall  ye  do  well  to  wend  the 
straightest  way  to  the  dwelling  of  the  wild-wood, 
and  that  is  by  way  of  the  western  verge  of  Evil- 
shaw  the  forest.  Greenford  is  on  the  way.  Way- 
leaders  ye  shall  get ;  be  wise,  yet  not  prudent,  and 
take  them,  though  they  be  evil,  and  your  luck  may 
well  avail. 

Therewith  the  image  vanished  away  as  it  had 
come,  and  Leonard,  who  with  the  others  took  the 
appearance  for  an  image  of  Birdalone,  said  that  it 
was  such  as  he  had  seen  it  the  three  last  days. 
So  they  lay  not  down  again,  but  departed  for 
Greenford  without  tarrying,  and  rode  the  other  end 
of  the  short  night  through  till  they  came  to  Green- 
ford. But  Leonard  would  not  with  them ;  and 
Hugh  behight  him,  if  he  lived  and  did  well,  to 
come  back  somehow  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest, 
and  so  re-do  it  that  it  should  be  no  longer  desolate. 

So  to  Greenford  they  came,  and  spared  not  to 
do  folk  to  wit  that  they  would  ride  a  pilgrimage 
in  Evilshaw,  and  were  fain  of  wayleaders  ;  and  there 
they  dwelt  a  day  or  two,  and  many  would  let  them 
of  that  journey,  which,  said  they,  was  rather  deadly 

34 


530     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

than  perilous  only.  But  on  the  third  day  came  to 
Sir  Hugh  two  stout  carles  well  weaponed,  who  said 
that  they  knew  well  all  the  ways  that  led  to  Evil- 
shaw,  and  the  ways  that  went  therethrough,  and 
they  offered  themselves  for  a  wage  to  Sir  Hugh. 
Now  these  said  carles  were  not  over  fair  of  favour, 
but  seemed  somewhat  of  ribalds,  nor  would  Sir 
Hugh  have  taken  them  to  service  in  his  house  at 
home  ;  but  he  called  to  mind  that  it  were  more 
prudence  than  wisdom  to  spoil  his  journey  and  lose 
the  occasion  of  finding  his  dear  friends  for  the  hasty 
judgment  of  a  man's  face  and  demeanour,  where- 
fore he  waged  these  two  men,  and  they  set  out  for 
the  western  edges  of  Evilshaw. 

Many  towns  and  thorps  they  passed  through, 
and  everywhere,  when  men  knew  whither  they  were 
bound,  they  letted  them  all  they  might  in  words ; 
but  little  heed  they  paid  thereto,  whereas  they  were 
all  fixed  in  their  rede  that  nought  was  to  be  done 
save  the  finding  of  their  friends,  and  that  their  life- 
days  were  spoiled  if  they  found  them  not.  And 
moreover,  each  one  of  them,  but  especially  Atra 
and  Viridis,  had  dreams  of  the  night  from  time  to 
time,  wherein  they  seemed  to  see  the  green-clad 
woman,  were  she  Birdalone  or  another,  beckoning 
and  bidding  them  to  enter  the  Wood  of  Evilshaw. 

As  to  those  two  way-leaders  withal,  whether  it 
were  that  they  got  used  to  their  faces,  or  that  their 
ways  and  manners  were  nought  uncourteous  or 
fierce,  they  doubted  them  less  and  less  as  time  wore ; 
all  save  Viridis,  whose  fiesh  crept  when  they  drew 
anigh  her,  as  will  betide  one  who  comes  across  an 


THE    DAYS    OF    ABSENCE  531 

evil-looking  creeping  thing.  As  for  Atra,  she  now 
began  to  heed  little  the  things  about  her,  as  if  her 
heart  were  wholly  set  on  the  end  of  the  journey. 

But  now  at  last  were  they  come  so  far  that  they 
had  no  choice  but  to  use  the  said  wayleaders,  for 
they  were  gotten  to  the  edge  of  Evilshaw.  So  they 
entered  it,  and  those  two  led  them  by  half-blind 
ways  and  paths  amongst  the  thickets,  and  fumbled 
never  with  the  road. 

Five  days  they  went  thus,  and  on  the  fifth  even- 
ing they  lay  down  to  sleep  in  the  wood,  and  it  was 
the  turn  of  those  two  hirelings  to  keep  watch  and 
ward,  and  they  woke  not  the  next  morn  save  with 
the  hands  of  the  Red  Felons  at  their  throats,  so  that 
Hugh  was  bound,  and  his  two  trusty  men  who 
came  with  him  from  the  Green  Mountains  were 
slain  before  a  stroke  might  be  struck. 

This  was  the  end  of  Viridis'  tale,  save  that  she  told 
how  that  it  was  she  that  had  uttered  those  two 
shrieks  which  Arthur  and  Birdalone  had  heard  from 
the  thicket  ;  and  that  she  had  so  done  when  the 
two  false  wayleaders  laid  hold  of  her  to  drag  her 
away  from  her  man,  who  stood  there  before  her 
bound  to  a  tree  that  he  might  perish  there,  whereon 
the  two  caitiffs  had  smitten  her  into  unwit  that  they 
might  have  no  more  of  her  cries. 

Now  when  all  this  had  been  told,  and  they  had 
abided  awhile  in  the  fair  little  dale,  and  had  said 
many  kind  endearing  words  of  friendship,  they 
went  up  on  the  green  way  again,  and  took  what 
of  the  horses  they  needed  and  trussed  their  goods 
thereon  (and  Birdalone  would  not  leave  that  brave 


532     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

armour  which  Habundia  had  given  her),  and  they 
dight  others  for  their  home-riding,  and  the  rest 
they  turned  loose  into  the  woods,  and  so  rode  their 
ways,  Birdalone  going  ever  with  Atra,  and  Arthur 
by  Aurea;  but  Viridis  must  needs  have  Hugh  with- 
in reach  of  her  hand  all  the  way. 

Good  speed  they  made,  so  that  ere  the  night  had 
fallen  on  them,  though  the  sun  was  set,  they  had 
come  to  the  House  under  the  Wood ;  and  there 
again  was  joy  and  wondering  of  the  new-comers, 
and  merry  feasting  on  such  simple  victuals  as  were 
there,  and  good-night  and  rest  in  all  contentment 
in  the  house  where  erst  had  Birdalone  tholed  so 
many  griefs  and  fears. 

Here  ends  the  Sixth  Part  of  the  Water 
of  the  Wondrous  Isles,  which  is  called  The 
Days  of  Absence,  and  begins  the  Seventh 
Part,  which  is  called  The  Days  of  Returning. 


THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS 
ISLES.  THE  SEVENTH  PART:  THE 
DAYS  OF  RETURNING. 

CHAPTER  I.  SIRHUGHASKETH  BIRD- 
ALONE  WHERE  SHE  WOULD  HAVE 
THE  ABODE  OF  THEIR  FELLOWSHIP 
TO  BE. 

ON  the  next  day,  they  arose  and  were  glad, 
and  it  was  to  them  as  if  the  sun  of  the  early 
summer  had  arisen  for  nought  save  to  shine 
on  their  happy  day.  And  they  went  about  from 
place  to  place  whereas  tidings  had  befallen  Bird- 
alone  ;  and  she  served  them  one  and  all  as  if  she 
were  their  handmaid,  and  they  loved  her  and  ca- 
ressed her,  and  had  been  fain  to  do  all  her  will  did 
they  but  know  it. 

In  this  wise  wore  day  after  day  till  June  began 
to  wane,  and  then  on  a  time  came  Hugh  unto  Bird- 
alone,  and  spake  unto  her  and  said :  All  we  have 
been  talking  together,  and  I  am  sent  to  ask  thee 
what  is  in  thy  mind  as  to  abiding  here  or  going 
elsewhither.  For  now  that  we  be  come  together 
again,  not  for  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  would 
we  sunder  again  ;  and  above  all,  none  of  us  would 
leave  thee,  O  my  sister.  But  if  thou  wilt  come 
with  me  to  our  land  under  the  Green  Mountains, 
there  is  for  thee  a  pleasant  place  and  a  fair  dwell- 
ing, and  honour  from  all  folk,  and  our  love  that 
shall   never  leave  thee ;   and   I,  and  Arthur  my 


534    THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

brother,  we  shall  win  fame  together  amongst  the 
knighthood,  and  thou  shalt  be  proud  and  glad 
both  of  him  and  of  me. 

She  said  :  And  if  I  may  not  go  with  thee  thither, 
what  other  way  is  there  to  escape  the  sundering  ? 
Said  Hugh  :  This,  that  thou  choose  in  the  world 
what  land  liketh  thee  for  a  dwelling-place,  and  we 
will  go  with  thee  and  leave  thee  never,  and  thou 
shalt  be  our  lady  and  queen.  Then  he  laughed  and 
said :  Yet,  our  lady,  I  have  left  behind  me  under 
the  Green  Mountains  certain  things  which  I  love, 
as  two  fair  women-children,  and  a  squire  or  two 
whose  fathers  served  my  fathers,  and  whose  chil- 
dren I  would  should  serve  my  children.  And 
moreover  I  have  left  there  certain  matters  of  avail, 
my  wealth  and  livelihood  to  wit.  Wilt  thou  be- 
grudge it  if  I  must  needs  go  fetch  these,  and  bring 
them  to  the  land  where  thou  dwellest,  through 
whatever  peril  we  may  have  to  face  ? 

Dear  art  thou,  she  said,  and  my  very  friend,  but 
tell  me :  how  sorry  wouldst  thou  be  to  leave  thine 
own  land  and  follow  after  me  for  the  sake  of  one 
who  is  neither  thine  own  true  love  nor  of  thy  kin- 
dred ?  Said  he  :  Not  so  sorry  that  I  should  grudge 
against  thee  thereafter.  Moreover  if  that  much  of 
sorrow  came  to  me,  I  should  deem  it  not  ill,  lest  I 
grow  so  over-happy  that  the  luck  rise  up  against  me 
and  undo  me. 

She  said,  smiling  on  him  kindly  :  Meseems  that 
I  am  over-happy,  whereas  I  have  such  dear  cherish- 
ing of  noble  friends.  But  now  I  will  tell  thee  all, 
and  maybe  thou  wilt  love  me  the  less  for  the  tell- 


THE    DAYS    OF    RETURNING  ^25 

ing.  In  these  woods  here,  and  lady  and  mistress  of 
them,  dwelleth  one  who  is  not  of  the  race  of  Adam. 
And  she  helped  and  cherished  me  and  gave  me 
wisdom  when  I  was  tormented  and  accursed,  and 
she  it  was  who  saved  me  from  the  evil  witch,  and 
gave  me  the  good  hap  to  meet  your  loves  and  to 
fetch  you  to  their  helping;  and  twice  hath  she  saved 
me  from  mortal  peril  otherwise.  And  she  hath 
found  me  my  love,  thy  brother  Arthur,  and  deliv- 
ered him  from  unwit  and  wanhope  ;  and  she  it  is 
who  drew  all  you  hither  unto  us,  and  who  delivered 
you  from  the  felons  who  had  mastered  you.  And 
1  have  sworn  unto  her  that  I  would  never  wholly 
sunder  me  from  her  ;  and  how  shall  I  break  mine 
oath  and  grieve  her,  even  had  I  the  will  thereto,  as 
God  wot  I  have  not  ?     And  she  wept  therewith. 

But  Hugh  kissed  her  and  said :  Birdalone,  my 
dear,  why  weepest  thou?  Didst  thou  not  hear  my 
word,  that  thy  people  should  be  my  people,  and  thy 
land  my  land,  and  that  whither  thou  goest  I  will 
go  ?  Dost  thou  not  trow  me  then  ?  Or  how  deem- 
est  thou  I  may  tear  thy  friend  Viridis  from  thee, 
when  she  hath  just  found  thee  ?  But  tell  me,  hast 
thou  in  thy  mind  any  dwelling-place  other  than 
this? 

Yea,  she  said  :  I  may  not  depart  very  far  from 
this  forest  of  Evilshaw  lest  I  grieve  my  wisdom- 
mother  overmuch.  But  if  one  go  westward  through 
the  wood,  he  shall  happen  at  last,  when  he  cometh 
forth  of  it,  on  a  good  town  hight  Utterhay,  which 
lieth  on  the  very  edge  thereof.  There  was  I  born, 
and  there  also  I  look  to  find  three  dear  and  trusty 


536     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

friends  to  whom  I  owe  return  of  their  much  kind- 
ness. It  is  a  noble  town  in  a  pleasant  land,  and  thou 
and  my  lord  Arthur  may  well  win  both  honour  and 
worship  and  lordship  there.  And  wholly  I  trust 
in  thy  word  that  thou  wilt  not  grudge  against  me 
for  dragging  thee  thither. 

Therewith  she  gave  him  her  hand,  smiling  on 
him,  though  there  was  yet  trouble  in  her  face.  But 
he  took  the  hand  and  held  it,  and  laughed  merrily 
and  said :  Lo  now  !  how  good  it  is  for  friends  to 
take  counsel  together  !  What  better  may  we  do  than 
go  with  thee  thither?  And  how  greatly  will  Viridis 
rejoice  when  she  heareth  of  this.  Now  will  I  go 
and  tell  her  and  the  others. 

Go  then,  dear  lad,  she  said  ;  but  as  to  the  matter 
of  thy  fetching  thy  children  and  livelihood  hither, 
that  may  be  not  so  hard  nor  so  perilous  as  thou 
deemest ;  and  thou  shalt  go  about  it  whenso  thou 
wilt,  and  the  sooner  the  better,  and  we  shall  abide 
thee  here  as  long  as  need  may  be.  And  therewith 
he  went  his  ways  to  tell  Viridis  and  the  others  of 
this  rede  which  they  had  come  to  between  them. 


CHAPTER  II.  BIRDALONE  TAKETH 
COUNSEL  WITH  HER  WOOD-MOTH- 
ER CONCERNING  THE  MATTER  OF 
SIR   HUGH. 

ON  that  same  day  went  Birdalone  to  the  Oak 
of  Tryst  and  called  her  wood-mother  to  her, 
and  she  came  glad  and  smiling,  and  kissed 
and  embraced  Birdalone,  and  said  unto  her :  Now 
I  see  that  thou  art  well  content  with  this  last  mat- 
ter I  have  done  for  thee,  whereas  thou  art  come 
to  crave  a  new  gift  of  me.  How  knowest  thou 
that?  said  Birdalone,  laughing.  Said  Habundia : 
Wouldst  thou  have  come  to  me  so  soon  otherwise 
from  out  of  all  that  happiness  ?  I  have  come  to 
tell  thee  of  my  rede,  said  Birdalone,  and  to  ask  thee 
if  thou  art  like-minded  with  me  thereon.  Said 
the  wood-wife  :  And  what  is  thy  rede,  m.y  child  ? 
Wood-mother,  said  Birdalone,  we  deem  that  it  were 
good  for  us  all  to  go  down  into  Utterhay  where  I 
was  born,  and  to  take  up  our  abode  therein. 

Said  the  wood-wife :  This  rede  I  praise,  and 
even  so  would  I  have  counselled  you  to  do ;  but  I 
abided  to  see  if  it  should  come  from  out  of  thy 
breast,  and  now  even  so  it  hath  done  ;  wherefore 
I  understand  thy  wisdom  and  rejoice  in  thee.  And 
now  crave  thy  boon,  my  child,  and  thou  shalt  have 
it  without  fail. 

Yea,  said  Birdalone,  that  will  I,  and  the  more 
that  it  is  a  simple  one  and  easy  for  thee  to  do. 
Thou  knowest  that  Hugh  the  Green  Knight  hath 
come  with  my  she-friends  seeking  us  all   the  way 


S3^     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

from  under  the  Green  Mountains,  and  he  hath 
left  there  goods  that  he  needs  must  have  and  folk 
whom  he  loves  ;  and  now  he  would  go  back  thither, 
and  fetch  all  that  away  hither,  and  see  to  his  mat- 
ters as  soon  as  may  be.  And  I  would  have  thee 
counsel  us  what  to  do,  whether  to  build  a  barque, 
as  perchance  we  may  get  it  done,  and  sail  the  lake 
therein  to  the  Castle  of  the  Quest  or  thereabout, 
and  thence  to  ride  to  his  land ;  or  else  to  take  thy 
guidance  and  safe-conduct  through  the  wood,  and 
to  bring  his  folk  back  the  same  way. 

Said  the  wood-wife :  As  to  the  way  by  water,  I 
may  help  you  little  therein,  and  meseemeth  that 
way  be  many  traps  and  wiles  and  many  perils. 
Wherefore  I  bid  you  try  it  not,  but  let  the  Green 
Knight  come  up  hither  to  this  tree  to-morrow 
before  noon,  all  horsed  and  armed  and  arrayed,  and 
there  shall  he  find  three  men  armed  in  green  gear, 
horsed  well,  and  leading  two  sumpter-beasts  with 
them ;  and  they  shall  be  his  until  he  giveth  them 
back  unto  me.  But  if  he  doubteth  any  thing  be- 
twixt the  wood's  end  and  under  the  Green  Moun- 
tains, let  him  wage  what  folk  he  will  besides,  for 
these  my  men  will  have  money  enough  of  his  with 
them.  But  by  no  means  let  him  send  them  away 
till  he  hath  done  with  the  wood  altogether,  both 
betwixt  here  and  the  western  dwelt-land,  and  here 
and  Utterhay,  save  thou  be  with  him.  But  while 
these  be  with  him,  both  he  and  whatsoever  money 
he  bringeth  shall  be  sure  from  all  peril  whiles  they 
be  in  the  wood.  Now,  my  child,  was  not  this  the 
boon  thou  camest  up  hither  to  ask  of  me  ? 


THE    DAYS    OF    RETURNING  539 

Yea  verily,  said  Birdalone ;  yet  also  I  came  up 
hither  to  praise  thee  and  thank  thee  and  love  thee. 
And  she  threw  herself  into  Habundia's  arms  and 
kissed  and  caressed  her,  and  Habundia  her  in  like 
wise. 

Spake  the  wood-wife :  Thou  art  the  beloved 
child  of  my  wisdom  ;  and  now  I  see  of  thee  that 
thou  wilt  be  faithful  and  true  and  loving  unto  me 
unto  the  end.  And  I  think  I  can  see  that  thou 
and  thy  man  shall  do  well  and  happily  in  Utter- 
hay  ;  and  the  Green  Knight  also  and  thy  she- 
friends.  And  whatsoever  thou  wilt  of  me  that  I 
may  do  for  thee  or  thy  friends,  ask  it  freely,  and 
freely  shalt  thou  have  it.  But  this  I  will  bid  thee, 
that  the  while  the  Green  Knight  shall  be  gone  about 
his  matter,  thou  shalt  come  hither  to  me  often  ;  and 
thy  friends  also  thou  shalt  bring  to  me,  that  I  may 
see  them  and  talk  to  them  and  love  them.  And 
specially  shalt  thou  bid  Atra  unto  me ;  for  me- 
seems  she  is  so  wise  already  that  I  may  learn  her 
more  wisdom,  and  put  that  into  her  heart  which 
may  solace  her  and  make  her  to  cease  from  fretting 
her  own  heart,  and  from  grief  and  longing  over- 
much. And  I  were  fain  to  reward  her  in  that  she 
hath  forborne  to  grudge  against  thee  and  to  bear 
thee  enmity.  For  I  know,  my  child,  not  from 
mine  own  heart,  but  from  the  wisdom  I  have  learned, 
how  hardly  the  children  of  Adam  may  bear  to  have 
that  which  they  love  taken  away  from  them  by 
another,  even  if  they  themselves  might  in  the  long 
last  have  wearied  of  it  and  cast  it  away  their  own 
selves.  Go  now,  my  child,  and  do  thy  friend  to 
wit  what  I  will  do  for  him. 


540     THE  WATER  OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

Therewith  they  parted,  and  Birdalone  fared  home 
to  the  house,  and  found  the  fellowship  of  them  all 
sitting  by  the  brook-side,  and  talking  sweetly  to- 
gether in  all  joy  and  hope  of  what  their  life  should 
be  in  the  new  land  whereto  Birdalone  would  lead 
them.  Straightway  then  she  told  them  of  Hugh 
and  his  journey,  and  how  well  he  should  be  guarded 
in  the  wood  both  coming  and  going.  And  they 
thought  that  right  good,  and  they  thanked  her 
and  praised  her,  and  took  her  into  their  talk,  and 
she  sat  down  by  them  happily. 


CHAPTER  III.  OF  THE  JOURNEY- 
ING THROUGH  THE  FOREST  OF 
EVILSHAW  UNTO  THE  TOWN  OF 
UTTERHAY. 

ON  the  morrow  in  due  time  Birdalone,  going 
afoot,  led  Sir  Hugh,  all-armed  and  horsed, 
to  the  Oak  of  Tryst,  and  there  they  found 
the  three  men-at-arms,  well-weaponed  and  in  green 
weed,  abiding  them.  They  did  obeisance  to  Sir 
Hugh,  and  he  greeted  them,  and  then  without  more 
ado  he  kissed  Birdalone  and  went  his  ways  with 
his  way-leaders,  but  Birdalone  turned  back  to  the 
house  and  her  friends. 

Next  day  Birdalone  brought  her  three  she- 
friends  unto  the  Trysting  Oak,  and  showed  them 
to  the  wood-mother,  and  she  was  kind  and  soft 
with  them  ;  and  both  Aurea  and  Viridis  were  shy 
with  her,  and  as  if  they  feared  her,  but  Atra  was 
frank  and  free,  and  spake  boldly.  And  thereafter 
when  Birdalone  went  to  meet  her  wood-mother, 
Atra  would  go  with  her  if  she  were  asked,  and  at 
last  would  go  alone,  when  she  found  that  Ha- 
bundia  was  fain  of  her  coming,  so  that  there  were 
not  many  days  when  they  met  not ;  and  the  wood- 
wife  fell  to  learning  her  the  lore  of  the  earth,  as 
she  had  done  aforetime  with  Birdalone  ;  and  Atra 
waxed  ruddier  and  merrier  of  countenance,  whereof 
was  Birdalone  right  glad,  and  Arthur  yet  more  glad, 
and  the  others  well  content. 

So  wore  the  time  till  Hugh  had  been  gone  for 
twenty  and  three  days,  and  as  they  walked  the 


542     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

meadows  anigh  the  house  about  undern,  they  saw 
a  knight  riding  down  the  bent  toward  them,  and 
presently  they  knew  him  for  Hugh,  and  turned  and 
hastened  to  meet  him,  so  that  he  was  straightway 
amidst  them,  and  on  foot.  Dear  then  were  the 
greetings  and  caresses  betwixt  them,  and  when  it 
was  over,  and  Birdalone  had  led  away  his  horse  and 
dight  it  for  him,  and  had  gotten  him  victuals  and 
drink,  and  they  were  all  sitting  on  thegrass  together, 
he  told  them  how  he  had  fared.  He  had  done  all 
his  matters  in  the  Land  under  the  Green  Moun- 
tains, and  had  given  over  his  lands  and  houses  to 
a  man  of  his  lineage,  his  cousin,  a  good  knight,  and 
had  taken  from  him  of  gold  and  goods  what  he 
would.  Then  he  had  taken  his  two  bairns  and  their 
nurse,  and  an  old  squire  and  five  sergeants,  where- 
of one  was  his  foster-brother,  and  the  others  men 
somewhat  stricken  in  years,  and  had  departed  with 
them.  Sithence  he  had  come  his  ways  to  Green- 
ford,  and  had  held  talk  therein  with  the  prior  of  a 
great  and  fair  house  of  Black  Canons,  and  had  given 
him  no  little  wealth  wherewith  to  re-do  the  Castle 
of  the  Quest  what  was  needed,  and  for  livelihood 
of  four  canons  to  dwell  there,  and  Leonard  to  be 
their  prior,  that  there  they  might  remember  Sir  Bau- 
doin  their  dear  friend  daily  in  the  office,  and  do  good 
unto  his  soul.  Sithence  he  had  ridden  to  the  Cas- 
tle of  the  Quest  with  the  said  Prior  of  St.  Austin 
of  Greenford,  and  had  found  Leonard,  and  had  set- 
tled all  the  business  how  it  was  to  be  done.  There- 
after he  had  returned  to  Greenford,  and  gathered 
his  folk,  and  got  him  gone,  under  the  guidance  of 


THE    DAYS    OF   RETURNING  543 

Habundia's  folk,  by  castles  and  thorps  and  towns 
the  nearest  way  to  the  edge  of  Evilshaw.  And  they 
had  come  to  the  forest,  and  ridden  it  six  days  with- 
out mishap  ;  and  when  they  had  come  to  the  Oak 
of  Tryst  once  more,  the  wayleaders  said  that  it  were 
well  if  all  they  together  tarried  not  much  longer  in 
the  forest ;  wherefore  they  had  brought  them  to  a 
fair  wood-lawn,  and  there  they  encamped,  and  were 
there  as  now.  And,  said  Hugh,  there  are  they  abid- 
ing me,  and  it  is  in  my  mind  that  this  very  eve  we 
go,  all  of  us,  and  meet  them  there,  if  ye  may  truss 
your  goods  in  that  while ;  but  as  to  victuals,  we  have 
plenty,  and  it  needeth  not.  And  then  to-morrow 
shall  we  wend  our  way  as  straight  as  may  be  toward 
the  good  town  of  Utterhay. 

All  they  yeasaid  it,  though  in  her  heart  maybe 
Birdalone  had  been  fain  of  abiding  a  little  longer  in 
her  own  land  ;  but  she  spake  no  word  thereof  And 
they  all  set  to  work  to  the  trussing  up  of  their  goods, 
and  then  turned  their  backs  on  the  Great  Water, 
and  came  up  into  the  woodland,  and  so  to  the  camp 
in  the  wood-lawn.  And  there  had  Viridis  a  joyful 
meeting  with  her  babes,  and  she  gladdened  the  hearts 
of  Sir  Hugh's  men-at-arms  by  her  kind  greeting; 
and  they  rejoiced  in  meeting  Aurea  and  Atra 
again,  and  they  wondered  at  Birdalone  and  her 
beauty,  and  their  hearts  went  out  to  her,  both  the 
old  men's  and  the  young  ones'.  But  Habundia's 
men  looked  on  it  all  like  images  of  warriors. 

There  then  they  feasted  merrily  that  evening. 
But  when  the  morrow  was  come  they  were  speedily 
on  the  way  toward  Utterhay  ;  and  the  wayleaders 


544     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS   ISLES 

guided  them  so  well  and  wisely,  that  by  noon  of 
the  fifth  day  they  were  come  forth  of  the  wood  and 
on  to  the  bent  that  looked  down  upon  the  town  of 
Utterhay.  There  turned  to  Hugh  the  three  way- 
leaders,  and  spake  :  Lord,  we  have  done  thee  the 
service  which  we  were  bidden  ;  if  thou  hast  no 
further  need  of  us,  give  us  leave. 

Said  Hugh  :  Leave  ye  have,  and  I  shall  give 
you  a  great  reward  ere  ye  go.  Said  the  chief  of 
them  :  Nay,  lord,  no  reward  may  we  take,  save  a 
token  from  thee  that  thou  art  content  with  us. 
What  token  shall  it  be  ?  said  Hugh.  Quoth  the 
wayleader  :  That  each  of  us  kiss  the  Lady  Birdalone 
on  the  mouth,  for  she  it  is  that  is  verily  our  mis- 
tress under  our  great  mistress. 

Laughed  Hugh  thereat,  but  the  men  laughed 
not ;  then  spake  Hugh  :  This  must  be  at  the  lady's 
own  will.     Even  so,  said  they. 

Then  Hugh  brought  Birdalone  thither  and  told 
her  what  was  toward,  and  she  consented  to  the  kiss 
with  a  good  will,  and  said  to  each  of  the  men  after 
they  had  kissed  her :  Herewith  goeth  my  love  to 
the  mistress  and  queen  of  the  woods  ;  do  ye  bear 
the  same  unto  her.  And  thereafter  those  waylead- 
ers  fared  back  into  the  woods. 

Now  they  gather  themselves  together  and  go 
down  toward  Utterhay,  and  make  a  brave  show, 
what  with  the  sumpter-horses,  and  the  goodly  ar- 
ray of  the  four  ladies,  and  the  glittering  war-gear 
of  the  men-at-arms  ;  and  Sir  Hugh  and  Sir  Arthur 
displayed  their  pennons  as  they  went. 

All  this  saw  the  warders  on  the  wall  of  Utter- 


THE   DAYS    OF   RETURNING  545 

hay  ;  and  they  told  the  captain  of  the  porte,  and 
he  came  up  on  to  the  wall,  and  a  man  with  him  ; 
and  when  he  saw  this  bright  company  coming  forth 
from  the  wood,  he  bade  men  to  him,  two  score  of 
them,  all  weaponed,  and  he  did  on  his  armour,  and 
rode  out-a-gates  with  them  to  meet  those  new- 
comers ;  and  this  he  did,  not  because  he  did  not 
see  them  to  be  but  few,  but  because  they  came  forth 
out  of  Evilshaw,  and  he  doubted  if  they  were 
trustworthy. 

So  he  met  them  two  bowshots  from  the  gate,  and 
rode  forward  till  he  was  close  to  the  wayfarers  ; 
and  when  he  beheld  the  loveliness  of  the  women, 
and  especially  of  Birdalone,  who  wore  that  day  the 
gleaming-glittering  gown  which  Habundia  had 
given  her,  he  was  abashed,  and  deemed  yet  more 
that  he  had  to  do  with  folk  of  the  Faery.  But  he 
spake  courteously,  and  said,  turning  to  Hugh,  who 
rode  the  foremost :  Fair  sir,  would  ye  tell  unto  the 
man  whose  business  it  is  to  safeguard  the  good 
town  of  Utterhay  what  folk  ye  be,  and  on  what  er- 
rand ye  ride,  and  how  it  is  that  ye  come  forth  from 
Evilshaw  safe,  in  good  case,  with  pennons  dis- 
played, as  if  the  said  wood  were  your  very  own 
livelihood  ?  For,  sooth  to  say,  hitherto  we  have 
found  this,  that  all  men  dread  Evilshaw,  and  none 
will  enter  it  uncompelled. 

Thereto  answered  Hugh  :  I  hight  Sir  Hugh  the 
Green  Knight,  and  am  come  from  under  the  Green 
Mountain  ;  and  this  is  Sir  Arthur,  called  the  Black 
Squire,  but  a  knight  he  is  verily,  and  of  great  kindred 
and  a  warrior  most  doughty.     And  he  hath  been 

3S 


546     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

captain  of  the  good  town  of  Greenford  west  away 
through  the  wood  yonder  a  long  way,  and  hath 
done  the  town  and  the  frank  thereof  mickle  good 
service  in  scattering  and  destroying  the  evil  com- 
panies of  the  Red  Hold,  which  hold  we  took  by 
force  of  arms  from  the  felons  who  held  it  for  the 
torment  and  plague  of  the  country-side. 

Now  as  to  our  errand,  we  be  minded  to  dwell 
in  your  good  town  of  Utterhay,  and  take  our  part 
with  your  folk,  and  we  have  wealth  enow  thereto, 
so  as  to  be  beholden  to  none ;  and  as  time  goes 
on  we  may  serve  you  in  divers  wise,  and  not  least 
in  this  maybe,  that  with  a  good  will  we  shall  draw 
sword  for  your  peace  and  the  freedom  of  them  of 
Utterhay. 

When  the  captain  heard  these  words,  he  made 
obeisance  to  Sir  Hugh,  and  said  :  Fair  sir,  though 
we  be  here  a  long  way  from  Greenford,  yet  have 
we  heard  some  tale  of  the  deeds  of  you,  and  surely 
the  porte  and  all  the  folk  shall  be  fain  of  your  com- 
ing. Yet  I  pray  thee  be  not  wrath ;  for  there  is  a 
custom  of  the  good  town,  that  none  may  enter  its 
gates  coming  from  out  of  this  Forest  of  Evilshaw, 
save  he  leave  some  pledge  or  caution  with  me,  be 
it  his  wealth,  or  the  body  of  some  friend  or  fellow, 
or,  if  nought  else,  his  very  own  body.  Wherefore 
if  thou.  Sir  Green  Knight,  wilt  but  give  us  some 
sure  pledge,  then  will  I  turn  about  and  ride  with 
you  back  and  through  the  gate  into  Utterhay  ; 
and  doubtless,  when  the  mayor  hath  seen  you  and 
spoken  with  you,  the  said  pledge  shall  be  rendered 
to  you  again. 


THE    DAYS    OF    RETURNING  547 

Ere  Hugh  might  answer,  came  Birdalone  forth 
and  said  :  Sir  captain,  if  I,  who  am  the  lady  of 
the  Black  Squire  here,  be  hostage  good  enough, 
then  take  me,  and  if  need  be,  chain  me  to  make 
surer  of  me.  And  she  drew  near  unto  him  smiling, 
and  held  out  her  hands  as  if  for  the  manacles. 

But  when  the  captain  saw  her  thus,  all  the  blood 
stirred  in  his  body  for  joy  of  her  beauty,  and  he 
might  but  just  sit  his  horse  for  his  wonder  and  long- 
ing ;  but  he  said  :  The  saints  forbid  it,  lady,  that 
I  should  do  thee  any  hurt  or  displeasure,  or  aught 
save  the  most  worship  I  may.  But  thy  hostage  I 
will  take.  Sir  Knight,  if  thou  be  content  to  yield 
her,  whereas  in  an  hour  belike  she  shall  be  free 
again.  And  now  fare  we  all  gateward  again. 

So  then  they  all  rode  on  together,  Birdalone  by 
the  captain's  left  hand  ;  and  as  they  passed  by  the 
poor  houses  without  the  wall,  she  looked  and  saw 
the  one  which  had  been  her  mother's  dwelling,  so 
oft  and  so  closely  had  she  told  her  all  about  it. 

Thus  then  they  entered  Utterhay,  and  the  cap- 
tain led  them  straight  to  the  mote-house  whereas 
the  mayor  and  the  porte  were  sitting ;  and  much 
people  followed  them  through  the  streets,  won- 
dering at  them,  and  praising  the  loveliness  of  the 
women,  and  the  frank  and  gallant  bearing  of  the 
men-at-arms. 

So  they  lighted  down  at  the  mote-house  and  were 
brought  to  the  mayor,  and  when  he  had  spoken 
them  but  a  little,  and  had  come  to  himself  again 
from  the  fear  and  abashment  that  he  had  of  them, 
he  showed  himself  full  fain  of  their  coming,  and 


548     THE  WATER   OF  THE  WONDROUS  ISLES 

bade  them  welcome  to  the  good  town,  and  took 
them  into  his  own  house  to  guesting,  until  folk 
might  dight  a  very  goodly  house  which  the  porte 
did  give  unto  them. 

But  some  two  hours  afterwards,  when  they  were 
housed  in  all  content,  as  they  sat  in  the  hall  of  the 
mayor,  which  was  great  and  goodly,  talking  and 
devising  with  worthies  of  Utterhay,  there  entered 
two  fair  and  frank-looking  young  men,  who  went 
straight  up  to  Birdalone,  and  the  first  knelt  down 
before  her  and  kissed  her  hand,  and  said :  O  our 
lady,  and  art  thou  verily  come  to  us  !  O  our  hap- 
piness and  the  joy  of  this  day  ! 

But  when  she  saw  him  and  heard  him  and  felt 
the  touch  of  his  hand,  she  bent  down  to  him  and 
kissed  him  on  the  forehead,  for  she  knew  him  that 
it  was  Robert  Gerardson. 

Then  the  other  man  came  up  to  her  as  if  he  also 
would  have  knelt  to  her,  but  his  purpose  changed, 
and  he  cast  his  arms  about  her  body  and  fell  to 
kissing  her  face  all  over,  weeping  the  while,  and 
then  he  drew  off  and  stood  trembling  before  her ; 
and  she,  all  blushing  like  a  red  rose  and  laughing 
a  little,  and  yet  with  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  said  : 

0  Giles  Gerardson,  and  thou,  Robert,  how  fain 

1  am  to  see  you  twain;  but  tell  me,  is  your  father 
well  ?  Yea,  verily,  our  dear  lady,  said  Robert,  and 
it  will  be  unto  him  as  a  fresh  draught  of  youth  when 
he  wotteth  that  thou  art  come  to  dwell  amongst 
us ;  for  so  it  is,  O  lady  beloved,  is  it  not?  said  he. 
Yea,  forsooth,  or  even  so  I  hope,  said  Birdalone. 
But  here  be  other  friends  that  ye  must  needs  know, 


THE   DAYS   OF   RETURNING  549 

if  we  come  to  dwell  together  here  in  peace;  and 
then  go  and  fetch  me  hither  your  father. 

Therewith  she  presented  them  unto  Arthur  and 
Hugh  and  the  three  ladies  of  the  Quest,  and  all 
they  greeted  them  kindly  and  in  all  honour;  and 
the  Gerardsons  loved  and  worshipped  them,  and 
especially  the  lovely  ladies,  the  she-friends  of  their 
lady. 

And  whiles  thev  were  about  this,  in  cometh  old 
Gerard  himself,  and  when  Birdalone  saw  him  at  the 
door,  she  arose  and  ran  to  meet  him,  and  cast  her 
arms  about  him  as  if  she  were  his  own  daughter ; 
and  most  joyful  was  the  meeting  betwixt  them. 


CHAPTER  IV.  OF  THE  ABIDING  IN 
UTTERHAY  IN  LOVE  AND  CONTENT- 
MENT. 

NOW  when  seven  days  were  worn,  the  mayor 
made  a  great  feast  at  his  house,  and  thither 
were  bidden  all  the  men  of  the  porte  and 
other  worthies,  and  great  merchants  who  had  come 
into  their  town  ;  and  the  said  feast  was  given  in 
honour  of  these  new-comers,  and  that  day  they  sat 
on  the  dais,  and  all  the  guests  worshipped  them  and 
wondered  at  their  beauty;  and  nought  was  spoken 
of  for  many  days  save  the  glory  and  hope  that  there 
was  in  this  lovely  folk. 

But  the  next  day  after  the  feast  were  they  brought 
to  their  house  in  all  triumph;  and  it  was  as  fair  as 
might  be  thought  of,  and  there  they  dwelt  a  while 
in  rest  and  peace,  and  great  recourse  there  was  there 
of  Gerard  and  his  sons. 

But  ere  the  winter  was  over,  were  Hugh  and 
Arthur  and  Gerard  and  his  sons  taken  to  the  free- 
dom of  Utterhay  ;  and  thereafter  spake  the  chief 
men  of  the  porte  and  the  masters  of  the  crafts  unto 
the  two  knights  by  the  mouth  of  the  mayor ;  and 
he  told  them,  what  already  they  partly  knew,  that 
the  good  town  had  of  late  gotten  many  enemies, 
whereas  it  was  wealthy  and  not  very  strong,  and 
that  now  two  such  warriors  having  come  amongst 
them,  they  were  minded  to  strengthen  themselves, 
if  only  they  two  would  of  their  gentleness  and 
meekness  become  their  war-dukes  to  lead  them 
against  the  foemen.     But  the  two  friends  answered 


THE    DAYS    OF    RETURNING  551 

that  it  was  well  their  will  to  dwell  there  neigh- 
bourly, and  do  them  all  the  help  they  might,  and 
that  they  would  not  gainsay  the  worship  they  of- 
fered them  nor  the  work  that  should  go  with  it. 

With  that  answer  were  all  men  well  content  and 
more:  and  then  the  mayor  said  that  the  mind  of 
the  porte  it  was  to  strengthen  the  walls  and  the 
gates,  and  to  build  a  good  and  fair  castle,  meet  for 
any  earl,  joining  on  to  the  wall  by  the  face  that 
looked  west,  that  is  to  say,  on  to  Evilshaw ;  and 
that  liked  the  war-dukes  well. 

So  when  spring  came  it  was  set  about,  but  it  was 
five  years  adoing,  and  before  it  was  all  finished  the 
war-dukes  entered  into  it,  and  dwelt  there  with  their 
wives  and  their  friends  in  all  honour.  And  a  little 
thereafter,  whether  they  would  or  no,  the  men  of 
Utterhay  had  to  handle  weapons  and  fare  afield  to 
meet  the  foe  with  the  valiant  men  of  the  crafts,  and 
what  of  waged  men  they  might  get.  And  well  and 
valiantly  were  they  led  by  their  dukes,  and  they  came 
to  their  above,  and  gained  both  wealth  and  honour 
thereby  ;  and  from  that  time  forward  began  the  in- 
crease of  Utterhay  under  those  two  captains,  who 
were  unto  them  as  in  old  time  the  consuls  had  been 
unto  the  Roman  folk,  save  that  they  changed  them 
not  year  by  year  as  the  Romans  were  wont. 

So  wore  the  days,  and  all  those  friends  dwelt  to- 
gether in  harmony  and  joy  ;  though  the  wearing 
of  time  wrought  changes  amongst  them.  For 
Robert  Gerardson  began  in  no  long  while  to  look 
on  Aurea  with  eyes  of  love  ;  and  at  last  he  came 
to  Birdalone  and  craved  her  leave  to  woo  the  said 


55^     THE   WATER   OF  THE   WONDROUS  ISLES 

lady,  and  she  granted  it  with  a  good  will,  and  was 
fain  thereof,  whereas  she  saw  that  Aurea  sorely- 
lacked  a  mate  ;  and  scarce  might  she  have  a  better 
than  was  Robert ;  so  in  process  of  time  they  two 
were  wedded  and  dwelt  together  happily. 

Forsooth  Birdalone  had  been  fainer  yet  might 
she  have  seen  Giles  Gerardson  and  Atra  drawn  to- 
gether. But  though  they  were  dear  friends  and 
there  was  much  converse  betwixt  them,  this  betid 
not,  so  far  as  we  have  heard. 

The  old  Gerard  dwelt  happily  amongst  them  all 
for  fifteen  years  after  they  had  come  to  Utterhay, 
and  then  fell  asleep,  a  very  old  man. 

As  to  the  wood  of  Evilshaw,  it  was  not  once  a 
year  only  that  Birdalone  and  Arthur  sought  thither 
and  met  the  wood-mother,  but  a  half-score  of  times 
or  more,  might  be,  in  the  year's  circle  ;  and  ever 
was  she  kind  and  loving  with  them,  and  they  with 
her. 

But  of  all  those  fellows  it  was  Atra  that  had 
longest  dealings  with  the  wood-wife  ;  for  whiles 
would  she  leave  Utterhay  and  her  friends  and  fare 
lonesome  up  into  Evilshaw,  and  find  Habundia  and 
abide  with  her  in  all  kindness  holden  for  a  month 
or  more.  And  ever  a  little  before  these  departures 
betid  would  she  fall  moody  and  few-spoken,  but 
she  came  back  ever  from  the  wood  calm  and  kind 
and  well-liking. 

Amidst  all  these  comings  and  goings  somewhat 
wore  off  the  terror  of  Evilshaw  ;  yet  never  was  it 
accounted  other  than  a  daring  deed  to  enter  it  alone 
without  fellowship  ;  and  most  had  liefer  that  some 


THE    DAYS    OF    RETURNING  SS3 

man  of  religion  were  of  their  company  therein,  or 
they  would  bear  about  them  something  holy  or 
blessed  to  hold  the  evil  things. 

Now  when  all  this  hath  been  said,  we  have  no 
more  to  tell  about  this  company  of  friends,  the 
most  of  whom  had  once  haunted  the  lands  about 
the  Water  of  the  Wondrous  Isles,  save  that  their 
love  never  sundered,  and  that  they  lived  without 
shame  and  died  without  fear.     So  here  is  an  end. 


Printed  by  John  Wilson  and  Son  at  the 
University  Press  in  Cambridge  U.  S.  A. 


MR.  WILLIAM  MORRISES  WORKS. 

Poetical  Works.  —  Library  Edition. 
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